Pomatodelphis

Pomatodelphis
Temporal range: Middle Miocene
~15.97–7.25 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Platanistidae
Subfamily: Pomatodelphininae
Genus: Pomatodelphis
Allen, 1921
Type species
Pomatodelphis inaequalis
Allen, 1921
Species
  • P. bobengi
  • P. inaequalis
  • P. stenorhynchus

Pomatodelphis is an extinct genus of river dolphin from Middle Miocene marine deposits in Alabama, Florida, Brazil, Germany and France.[1]

Etymology

Pomatodelphis may be a typo for potamodelphis ("river dolphin")[2] from potamo-, "river", and δελφίς, delphis "dolphin".

Classification

Pomatodelphis belongs to the platanistid subfamily Pomatodelphininae, which is distinguished from the South Asian river dolphin in having a flattened rostrum, a transversely expanded posterior end of the premaxilla, an eye and bony orbit of normal size (not atrophied), and nasal bones not reduced in size but wide transversely. A close relative of Pomatodelphis is Prepomatodelphis from marine deposits in Austria. Three species are known, P. inaequalis, P. bobengi, and P. stenorhynchus.[3]

Fossil distribution

Fossils of Pomatodelphis have been found in:[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fossilworks: Pomatodelphis". fossilworks.org. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  2. ^ a b Manz, Carly (31 March 2017). "Pomatodelphis inaequalis". Florida Museum of Natural History. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  3. ^ Barnes, L.G., 2006. A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Superfamily Platanistoidea (Mammalia, Cetacea, Odontoceti). Beitr. Palaont., 30:25-42.