Biology:Inermorostrum

From HandWiki
Short description: Extinct genus of mammals

Inermorostrum
Temporal range: Early Oligocene, 30 Ma
Inermorostrum NT.jpg
Life restoration
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Xenorophidae
Genus: Inermorostrum
Boessenecker et al., 2017
Species:
I. xenops
Binomial name
Inermorostrum xenops
Boessenecker et al., 2017

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

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

References

Wikidata ☰ Q37795120 entry