| Basic info | Taxonomic history | Classification | Included Taxa |
| Morphology | Ecology and taphonomy | External Literature Search | Age range and collections |
Pebanista
Taxonomy
Pebanista was named by Benites-Palomino et al. (2024). Its type is Pebanista yacuruna.
It was assigned to Platanistidae by Benites-Palomino et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Platanistidae by Benites-Palomino et al. (2024).
Species
P. yacuruna (type species)
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Pebanista Benites-Palomino et al. p. 1 figs. Fig. 2 |
Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data
|
|
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.
G. †Pebanista Benites-Palomino et al. 2024
show all | hide all
†Pebanista yacuruna Benites-Palomino et al. 2024
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| A. Benites-Palomino et al. 2024 | The holotype skull of Pebanista yacuruna, MUSM 4017, has a pre- served condylobasal length of 698 mm and an estimated bizygo- matic width of 281 mm. The sutures between the cranial bones (e.g., maxilla-premaxilla suture along the rostrum) are well closed or fused, indicating an adult stage. Pebanista is recognized as a member of Platanistidae by having the vertex of the skull deviated leftwards (Fig. 2, A and B); asymmetry of the premaxillae in the rostrum and facial areas of the skull; braincase anteroposteriorly shorter than wide; and lack of contact of the palatines, with both projecting dorsolaterally (figs. S3 and S4). The rostrum of the ho- lotype specimen is dorsoventrally flattened and elongated, a con- dition shared with the extinct Pomatodelphis, Prepomatodelphis, and Zarhachis, in contrast to the transversely compressed rostrum of extant Platanista. On the preserved portion, the rostrum is formed by the premaxillae, maxillae, and vomer, being much more transversely robust than in other platanistids. The rostrum
exhibits several well-preserved dental alveoli; these are propor- tionally larger than those of other platanistids (fig. S4). The facial region of the skull exhibits a well-developed circumnarial basin, delimited laterally by the supraorbital crests and posteriorly by the nuchal crest. The external bony nares are displaced to the left, cre- ating an asymmetric array of the surrounding bones. Pebanista displays greatly developed lateral supraorbital crests, projecting dorsomedially over the level of the facial region of the skull. These crests are formed by the frontal bone, unlike in Pomatodelphis and Zarhachis in which they are formed by the frontal laterally and the maxilla medially, and unlike in Platanista in which the crests are only formed by the maxillae. The supraorbital crests in Pebanista are robust but transversely flattened as in Platanista. The dorsome- dial edge of the crests presents several large vacuities, which could foreshadow the full excavation of the crest in Platanista, which receives the dorsal extension of the pterygoid sinus (20). Only the left orbit is preserved, which in lateral view is proportionally shorter than other platanistids, a condition solely shared with extant Platanista. The pterygoids in Pebanista cover most of the palatines ventrally, except for a narrow lateral stripe. Pebanista differs from Pomatodelphis and Zarhachis by having transversely compressed walls of the supraorbital crests, partly resembling those of Platani- sta. The temporal fossa is anteroposteriorly longer than high and extends posteriorly into the occipital region (fig. S5). Posteriorly, the nuchal crest joins the supraorbital crest, giving the skull a squared posterior outline in dorsal view. The occipital shield proj- ects slightly toward the anterior region of the skull, but it is not possible to assess whether this is its true shape, or a condition re- sulting from taphonomic compression. |