Fordycetus taitonga Tanaka et al. 2026 (toothed whale)

Mammalia - Cetacea - Squalodelphinidae

Full reference: Y. Tanaka, M. Ortega, and R. E. Fordyce. 2026. A new squalodelphinid species with a domed supraorbital process from the Lower Miocene of New Zealand. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e2641081

Belongs to Fordycetus according to Y. Tanaka et al. 2026

Sister taxa: none

Type specimen: OU 22670, a partial skull (disarticulated partial rostrum and cranium (Figs. 2–8): the maxillae, premaxillae, vomer, right nasal, frontals, right squamosal, alisphenoid, right parietal, s). Its type locality is Awamoa Creek Mouth, which is in an Otaian/Altonian deep subtidal shelf siltstone in the Mount Harris Formation of New Zealand.

Ecology: aquatic carnivore

Distribution: found only at Awamoa Creek Mouth

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Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.


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