Inermorostrum

Inermorostrum is a genus of primitive odontocete from early Oligocene (Rupelian) marine deposits in South Carolina. It belongs to the family Xenorophidae.

Inermorostrum Temporal range: Early Oligocene, 30 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Life restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Suborder:	Whippomorpha
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	†Xenorophidae
Genus:	†Inermorostrum Boessenecker et al., 2017
Species:	†I. xenops
Binomial name
†Inermorostrum xenops Boessenecker et al., 2017

Description and biology

Inermorostrum is largely distinguished from other xenorophiids in having a greatly reduced rostrum devoid of functional teeth. The short, toothless rostrum is unusual for early odontocetes, showing that Inermorostrum mostly preyed on squids and other marine invertebrates by means of suction-feeding.^[1]

Inermorostrum anterolateral at Mace Brown Museum of Natural History