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Kekenodontidae

Mammalia - Cetacea

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1955Squalodon gambierensis Glaessner p. 362 figs. Fig. 5a-c
1973Squalodon gambierensis Keyes p. 385
1989Kekenodontinae Mitchell p. 2231
1992Kekenodontidae Fordyce p. 371 figs. Figure 18.2
1994Kekenodontidae Fordyce and Barnes p. 428 figs. Table 1
1995Kekenodontidae Fordyce et al. p. 379
1997Kekenodontidae McKenna and Bell p. 375
1998Kekenodontinae Rice
2001Kekenodontidae Fordyce and de Muizon p. 176
2002Kekenodontidae Rice p. 231 figs. Table 1
2004Kekenodontidae Fordyce p. 59
2006Kekenodontidae Fordyce p. 772
2007Kekenodontidae Bianucci and Landini p. 45 figs. Table 2.1
2009Kekenodontidae Rice p. 235 figs. Table 1
2010Kekenodontidae Fitzgerald p. 370 figs. Table 1
2014Kekenodontidae Clementz et al.
2016Kekenodontidae Marx et al. p. 102
2017Kekenodontidae Berta p. 160
2017Kekenodontidae Hernández Cisneros et al. p. 161
2018Kekenodontidae Uhen p. 79
2022Kekenodontidae Corrie and Fordyce
2024Kekenodontidae Corrie and Fordyce

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
RankNameAuthor
classMammalia
Theriamorpha(Rowe 1993)
Theriiformes()
Trechnotheria
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
Laurasiatheria
Scrotifera
Euungulata
Artiodactylamorpha
Artiodactyla()
Whippomorpha
orderCetacea
Pelagiceti
Kekenodontidae()
Kekenodontidae()

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.

Unr. †Kekenodontidae Mitchell 1989
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G. †Kekenodon Hector 1881
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Kekenodon onamata Hector 1881
G. †Tohoraonepu Corrie and Fordyce 2024
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Tohoraonepu nihokaiwaiu Corrie and Fordyce 2024
Invalid names: Squalodon gambierensis Glaessner 1955 [invalid subgroup]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
J. E. Corrie and R. E. Fordyce 2022Heterodont stem cetaceans (archaeocetes) with a large estimated condylobasal length of c. 1300 mm; differing from all Eocene archaeocetes in possessing an anterior process of the periotic that is ovoid in cross-section (transverse diameter of the anterior process of the periotic between 51% and 78% of the height), a prominent lateral tuberosity located lateral to the mallear fossa, medial edge of the anterior process of the periotic and anterior edge of the pars cochlearis form an obtuse angle, rounded anteromedial angle of the pars cochlearis, a pars cochlearis with a hemispherical ventral profile, reduced superior process of the periotic forming a concave, low-lying ridge terminating at anterior and posterior apices, teeth lacking a continuous cingular shelf and inferred lower molariform teeth with accessory denticles rather than a re-entrant groove along the anterior margin of the crown. Kekenodontids differ from all Neoceti in possessing a low-lying transverse crest separating the dorsal and ventral vestibular areas of the internal acoustic meatus. Kekenodontids differ from Mysticeti in possessing a pars cochlearis with a longitudinal ventral ridge. Kekenodontids differ from crown Mysticeti in possessing an anterior process of the periotic intermediate in length relative to the pars cochlearis, a distinct mallear fossa, a distinct fovea epitubaria to accommodate the accessory ossicle of the tympanic bulla and a superior process of the periotic. Kekenodontids differ from Chaeomysticeti in possessing functional permanent teeth (possibly excluding the eomysticetid Waharoa ruwhenua). Kekenodontids differ from Aetiocetidae and Eomysticetidae in possessing an anterior process of the periotic that is transversely broader and less blade-like. Kekenodontids differ from Aetiocetidae in possessing postcanine teeth with larger accessory denticles. Kekenodontids differ from Odontoceti in possessing a mallear fossa and fossa incudis not separated by a submallear fossa, strongly heterodont teeth with postcanine teeth that have numerous large accessory denticles on the anterior and posterior margins of the crown (excluding Inticetus vertizi Lambert et al., 2017 and Squalodontidae).