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Westmorelandelphis tacheroni

Osteichthyes - Cetacea

Taxonomy
Westmorelandelphis tacheroni was named by Godfrey and Lambert (2023). Its type specimen is USNM PAL 317882, a partial skull (nearly complete skull (bizygomatic width = 166 mm; Table 2.9) missing only the apex of the rostrum, with a mandible and ear bones.), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Nomini Cliffs, Zone 14-16, which is in a Serravallian foreshore claystone in the Calvert Formation of Virginia. It is the type species of Westmorelandelphis.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2023Westmorelandelphis tacheroni Godfrey and Lambert p. 152 figs. FIGURES 2.59, 2.60

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
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
suborderOdontoceti
infraorderDelphinida
genusWestmorelandelphis
speciestacheroni

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.

†Westmorelandelphis tacheroni Godfrey and Lambert 2023
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
S. J. Godfrey and O. Lambert 2023This small delphinidan is characterized by the following unique combination of characters: elongated rostrum with a tooth count greater than 39 for each quadrant; transversely concave premaxillary sac fossae; vertex nearly 2 times wider than anteroposteriorly long; prominent posterolateral knob at posterior end of premaxilla; inflated nasals extending laterally significantly beyond the lateral margin of the bony nares; vertical notch on anterior margin of each nasal; internasal fossa; nasal-frontal suture posteriorly convex; inflated occipital shield being transversely convex; low temporal crest; temporal fossa being anteroposteriorly longer than dorsoventrally high, with a correspondingly moderately elongated zygomatic process of the squamosal; pterygoid sinus fossa extending anteriorly beyond the level of the antorbital notch; elongated mandibular symphysis being fused; postsymphyseal region of the mandible bearing 14 or 15 teeth per side; and small conical teeth lacking any ornamentation or accessory denticles.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatitesubo
Form: roller-shapedo
Ontogeny: modification of partso
Environment: marine, freshwatersubo
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: aquatico
Depth habitat: surfaceo
Diet: carnivoresubo
Reproduction: viviparoussubo
Created: 2005-03-06 14:21:39
Modified: 2005-09-22 15:42:08
Source: subo = suborder, o = order
Reference: Uhen 2004

Age range: Serravallian or 13.82000 to 11.63000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63USA (Virginia) Westmorelandelphis tacheroni (type locality: 71798)