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Metopocetus hunteri

Mammalia - Cetacea - Cetotheriidae

Taxonomy
Metopocetus hunteri was named by Marx et al. (2016). Its type specimen is NMR 9991-07729, a partial skull (vertex, palatines, the right half of the braincase and basicranium, and the right periotic and tympanic bulla), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Hoogdonk Sandpit, which is in a Tortonian marine sandstone in the Diessen Formation of the Netherlands.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2016Metopocetus hunteri Marx et al. p. 5 figs. Figs. 2-9

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
RankNameAuthor
classMammalia
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
Laurasiatheria
Scrotifera
Euungulata
Artiodactylamorpha
Artiodactyla()
Whippomorpha
orderCetacea
Pelagiceti
Neoceti
suborderMysticeti
Chaeomysticeti()
familyCetotheriidae()
genusMetopocetus
specieshunteri

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Metopocetus hunteri Marx et al. 2016
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
F. G. Marx et al. 2016Differs from Metopocetus durinasus in having a somewhat narrower, less distally exposed compound posterior process of the tympanoperiotic, a less anteriorly bulging temporal wall of the squamosal and a more proximally located primary dorsal infraorbital foramen on the ascending process of the maxilla (located either more distally or absent in M. durinasus), as well as in lacking ankylosed nasals.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatitesubo
Form: roller-shapedo
Ontogeny: modification of partso
Environment: marinesubo
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: aquaticsubo
Depth habitat: surfaceo
Diet: carnivoresubo
Diet 2: suspension feedersubo
Reproduction: viviparouso
Created: 2005-03-06 14:20:41
Modified: 2005-03-06 16:34:40
Source: subo = suborder, o = order
Reference: Uhen 2004

Age range: Tortonian or 11.62000 to 7.24600 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Netherlands (Noord-Brabant) Metopocetus hunteri (type locality: 94930)