<i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru
Among odontocetes, members of the family Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm whales) are known as small-sized and in many respects enigmatic relatives of the great sperm whale <i>Physeter macrocephalus</i>. Most of the still scanty fossil record of Kogiidae is represented by isolated skul...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2017-12-01
|
| Series: | Fossil Record |
| Online Access: | https://www.foss-rec.net/20/259/2017/fr-20-259-2017.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797368419625992192 |
|---|---|
| author | A. Collareta A. Collareta O. Lambert C. de Muizon M. Urbina G. Bianucci |
| author_facet | A. Collareta A. Collareta O. Lambert C. de Muizon M. Urbina G. Bianucci |
| author_sort | A. Collareta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Among odontocetes, members of the family Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm
whales) are known as small-sized and in many respects enigmatic relatives of the great
sperm whale <i>Physeter macrocephalus</i>. Most of the still scanty fossil
record of Kogiidae is represented by isolated skulls and ear bones from
Neogene deposits of the Northern Hemisphere, with the significant exception
of <i>Scaphokogia</i>, a highly autapomorphic genus from late Miocene
deposits of the Pisco Formation exposed along the southern coast of Peru. Here we report on a
new fossil kogiid from Aguada de Lomas, a site where the late Miocene beds of
the Pisco Formation are exposed. This specimen consists of an almost complete
cranium representing a new taxon of Kogiidae: <i>Koristocetus pescei</i>
gen. et sp. nov. <i>Koristocetus</i> mainly differs from extant
<i>Kogia</i> spp. by displaying a larger temporal fossa and
well-individualized dental alveoli on the upper jaws. Coupled with a
relatively elongated rostrum, these characters suggest that
<i>Koristocetus</i> retained some degree of raptorial feeding abilities,
contrasting with the strong suction feeding specialization seen in Recent
kogiids. Our phylogenetic analysis recognizes <i>Koristocetus</i> as the
earliest branching member of the subfamily Kogiinae. Interestingly,
<i>Koristocetus</i> shared the southern coast of present-day Peru with
members of the genus <i>Scaphokogia</i>, whose unique convex rostrum and
unusual neurocranial morphology seemingly indicate a peculiar foraging
specialization that has still to be understood. In conclusion,
<i>Koristocetus</i> evokes a long history of high diversity, morphological
disparity, and sympatric habits in fossil kogiids, thus suggesting that our
comprehension of the evolutionary history of pygmy and dwarf sperm whales is
still far from being exhaustive. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:31:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f71 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-0066 2193-0074 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:31:13Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fossil Record |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7e1a8073ed5413499c4a1668cbf2f712024-01-02T15:14:45ZengPensoft PublishersFossil Record2193-00662193-00742017-12-012025927810.5194/fr-20-259-2017<i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of PeruA. Collareta0A. Collareta1O. Lambert2C. de Muizon3M. Urbina4G. Bianucci5Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa, via Santa Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDottorato Regionale in Scienze della Terra Pegaso, Università di Pisa, via Santa Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, ItalyInstitut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, D.O. Terre et Histoire de la Vie, rue Vautier 29, 1000 Brussels, BelgiumDépartement Origines et Évolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre de Recherches sur la paléobiodiversité et les paléoenvironnements – CR2P (CNRS, MNHN, UPMC, Sorbonne Université), rue Buffon 8, 75005 Paris, FranceDepartamento de Paleontologia de Vertebrados, Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, avenida Arenales 1256, Lima 14, PeruDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa, via Santa Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, ItalyAmong odontocetes, members of the family Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm whales) are known as small-sized and in many respects enigmatic relatives of the great sperm whale <i>Physeter macrocephalus</i>. Most of the still scanty fossil record of Kogiidae is represented by isolated skulls and ear bones from Neogene deposits of the Northern Hemisphere, with the significant exception of <i>Scaphokogia</i>, a highly autapomorphic genus from late Miocene deposits of the Pisco Formation exposed along the southern coast of Peru. Here we report on a new fossil kogiid from Aguada de Lomas, a site where the late Miocene beds of the Pisco Formation are exposed. This specimen consists of an almost complete cranium representing a new taxon of Kogiidae: <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov. <i>Koristocetus</i> mainly differs from extant <i>Kogia</i> spp. by displaying a larger temporal fossa and well-individualized dental alveoli on the upper jaws. Coupled with a relatively elongated rostrum, these characters suggest that <i>Koristocetus</i> retained some degree of raptorial feeding abilities, contrasting with the strong suction feeding specialization seen in Recent kogiids. Our phylogenetic analysis recognizes <i>Koristocetus</i> as the earliest branching member of the subfamily Kogiinae. Interestingly, <i>Koristocetus</i> shared the southern coast of present-day Peru with members of the genus <i>Scaphokogia</i>, whose unique convex rostrum and unusual neurocranial morphology seemingly indicate a peculiar foraging specialization that has still to be understood. In conclusion, <i>Koristocetus</i> evokes a long history of high diversity, morphological disparity, and sympatric habits in fossil kogiids, thus suggesting that our comprehension of the evolutionary history of pygmy and dwarf sperm whales is still far from being exhaustive.https://www.foss-rec.net/20/259/2017/fr-20-259-2017.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. Collareta A. Collareta O. Lambert C. de Muizon M. Urbina G. Bianucci <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru Fossil Record |
| title | <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
| title_full | <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
| title_fullStr | <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
| title_short | <i>Koristocetus pescei</i> gen. et sp. nov., a diminutive sperm whale (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae) from the late Miocene of Peru |
| title_sort | i koristocetus pescei i gen et sp nov a diminutive sperm whale cetacea odontoceti kogiidae from the late miocene of peru |
| url | https://www.foss-rec.net/20/259/2017/fr-20-259-2017.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT acollareta ikoristocetuspesceiigenetspnovadiminutivespermwhalecetaceaodontocetikogiidaefromthelatemioceneofperu AT acollareta ikoristocetuspesceiigenetspnovadiminutivespermwhalecetaceaodontocetikogiidaefromthelatemioceneofperu AT olambert ikoristocetuspesceiigenetspnovadiminutivespermwhalecetaceaodontocetikogiidaefromthelatemioceneofperu AT cdemuizon ikoristocetuspesceiigenetspnovadiminutivespermwhalecetaceaodontocetikogiidaefromthelatemioceneofperu AT murbina ikoristocetuspesceiigenetspnovadiminutivespermwhalecetaceaodontocetikogiidaefromthelatemioceneofperu AT gbianucci ikoristocetuspesceiigenetspnovadiminutivespermwhalecetaceaodontocetikogiidaefromthelatemioceneofperu |