Kekenodon

Kekenodon is an extinct kekenodontid early whale from the Late Oligocene (Chattian) of New Zealand. Measuring 8–9 m (26–30 ft) long, it was a large raptorial whale which hunted marine mammals and penguins.^[1] Although at times classified as a basilosaurid, mysticete, or odontocete, recent work suggests that it represents a phylogenetic intermediate form between Basilosauridae and Neoceti.

Kekenodon Temporal range: Late Oligocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Teeth of Kekenodon onamata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Suborder:	Whippomorpha
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	†Kekenodontidae Mitchell, 1989
Genus:	†Kekenodon Hector, 1881
Species
†K. onamata Hector, 1881

Classification

Kekenodon was considered a member of the basilosaurid subfamily Dorudontinae in the classic monograph on Archaeoceti by Kellogg (1936).^[2]

"Squalodon" gambierensis from Australia is a close relative of Kekenodon.^[3]

Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Kekenodon is the "latest-surviving archaeocete, sister-taxon to the Neoceti."^[1]