Protororqualus
Extinct genus of mammals / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Protororqualus is a genus of extinct rorqual from the late Pliocene (Piacenzian, 3.6 to 2.6 Ma) of Mount Pulgnasco, Italy (45.1°N 9.7°E / 45.1; 9.7: paleocoordinates 45.0°N 9.6°E / 45.0; 9.6).[1]
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Species ...
Protororqualus | |
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Skeleton | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Infraorder: | Cetacea |
Family: | Balaenopteridae |
Genus: | †Protororqualus Bisconti 2007 |
Species | |
†P. cuverii [originally Balaena] (type) |
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The analysis made by Bisconti 2007 identified Protororqualus as a late representative of the rorquals which survived in the Mediterranean at least until the late Pliocene. This would indicate that the Mediterranean basin played a vital role in preserving primitive rorquals while more derived forms established themselves in other oceans.