Peripolocetus

Peripolocetus is a genus of balaenid baleen whale from the middle Miocene of Kern County, California.^[1]

Peripolocetus Temporal range: Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	Balaenidae
Genus:	†Peripolocetus Kellogg, 1931
Species
†P. vexillifer Kellogg, 1931 (Type)

Classification

Like other non-balaenopteroid thalassotheres, Peripolocetus was classified as a cetotheriid in the past. When named by American zoologist Remington Kellogg in 1931, it was assigned to Cetotheriidae,^[2] an opinion followed by subsequent authors.^[3][4][5] However, it was assigned to Mysticeti incertae sedis by one source,^[1] and a cladistic analysis of Herpetocetus morrowi recovered Peripolocetus as a member of Balaenoidea.^[6] The assignment of Peripolocetus to Balaenoidea was further reinforced by a new specimen from the type locality at Sharktooth Hill Bonebed.^[7]