From Problem Taxa to Problem Solver: A New Miocene Family, Tranatocetidae, Brings Perspective on Baleen Whale Evolution

PloS One
Pavel Gol'din, Mette Elstrup Steeman

Abstract

Miocene baleen whales were highly diverse and included tens of genera. However, their taxonomy and phylogeny, as well as relationships with living whales, are still a subject of controversy. Here, "Mesocetus" argillarius, a poorly known specimen from Denmark, is redescribed with a focus on the cranial anatomy. It was found to represent not only a new genus, Tranatocetus gen. nov., but also a new family; Tranatocetidae. The whales of this family have the rostral bones either overriding or dividing the frontals; the rostral bones are contacting the parietals and nasals dividing the maxillae on the vertex; the occipital shield is dorsoventrally bent. The tympanic bulla is particularly characteristic of this family featuring a short, narrow anterior portion with a rounded or squared anterior end and a wider and higher posterior portion that is swollen in the posteroventral area. A phylogenetic analysis including 51 taxa supports a monophyletic group comprising most Neogene and modern whales, with Tranatocetidae being possibly closer related to Balaenopteridae (rorquals) than to Cetotheriidae. Tranatocetidae exhibit a charahteristic bulla shape. In fact, all Neogene and modern mysticete families examined have a unique shape of the t...Continue Reading

References

Apr 27, 2011·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Jonathan H GeislerJohn Gatesy
Dec 21, 2012·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·R Ewan Fordyce, Felix G Marx
Jun 13, 2015·Royal Society Open Science·Felix G Marx, R Ewan Fordyce

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Citations

Mar 24, 2017·Journal of Morphology·Travis ParkAlistair R Evans
Jun 27, 2018·PeerJ·Felix G MarxAlistair R Evans

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