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Taxonomy
Awamokoa tokarahi was named by Tanaka and Fordyce (2016). Its type specimen is OU 22125, a partial skeleton (fragmentary skull, right periotic and both tympanic bullae, incomplete man- dibles, 14 isolated teeth, atlas, axis, a cervical vertebra, a thoracic vertebra, se), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Tokarahi Cliff, which is in a Duntroonian marine sandstone in the Kokoamu Greensand Formation of New Zealand. It is the type species of Awamokoa.
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Awamokoa tokarahi Tanaka and Fordyce |
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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.
†Awamokoa tokarahi Tanaka and Fordyce 2016
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Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| Y. Tanaka and R. E. Fordyce 2016 | Heterodont odontocete with tooth sizes com- parable with those of Waipatia maerewhenua. Similar to Waipatia maerewhenua in the robust anterior process of the periotic with a rounded anterior end, teardrop-shaped internal acoustic meatus of the periotic and broad poste- rior process of the periotic. Awamokoa tokarahi has one autapomorphy amongst the Platanistoidea sensu stricto: a dorsoventrally higher postglenoid process relative to the post-tympanic process (character 116; homoplastic with the state in some other Odontoceti). The teardrop-shaped fenestra rotunda (character 174) is seen elsewhere among Platanistoidea sensu stricto only in Otekaikea huata. Dif- fers from Waipatia in: apex of postglenoid process dor- sally higher than the post-tympanic process; a teardrop- shaped fenestra rotunda with a fissure directed towards the aperture for cochlear aqueduct; a dorsoventrally thin zygomatic process; an anteromedially oriented anterior surface of the postglenoid process of the squamosal; two prominent dorsal crests on the periotic; an outstandingly large aperture for the vestibular aqueduct (3.7 mm); and strongly expanded anterior part of the tympanic cavity of the bulla. Differs from Otekaikea in having: a more robust anterior process of the periotic; broader posterior process of the periotic; weaker curve of the parabullary sulcus of the periotic; more rounded sigmoidal process of the bulla. Differs from Squalodontidae in having a dorsoventrally thick anterior process of the periotic; and larger mallear fossa and lateral tuberosity of the periotic. |