Eurhinodelphis

Eurhinodelphis; Temporal range: Middle Miocene–Late Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Skeleton of E. longirostris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	†Eurhinodelphinidae
Genus:	†Eurhinodelphis; Du Bus, 1867
Species
	E. cocheuteuxi Du Bus, 1867(type); E. longirostris Du Bus, 1872;

Eurhinodelphis ("well-nosed dolphin") is an extinct genus of Miocene cetacean. Its fossils have been found in Belgium, France, and Maryland.

Species

Currently-valid species are:^[1]

E. cocheuteuxi
E. longirostris

Former species include:

E. bossi, now a species of Xiphiacetus.

Description

Eurhinodelphis was around 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length. In most respects, it would have looked like a modern dolphin or porpoise, but its upper jaw was elongated into a sharp tip similar to that of a swordfish. Most likely, Eurhinodelphis used it in a similar manner to swordfish, hitting or stabbing prey. It also had long, sharp teeth.^[2]

Compared with earlier fossil species, Eurhinodelphis had complex ears, suggesting that it already hunted by echolocation like modern whales. Its brain was also asymmetrical, a trait found in modern dolphins, and possibly associated with the complexities of navigating its environment.^[2]

History

Eurhinodelphis was first described by B. Du Bus in a paper read before the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium on 17 December 1867. O. Abel studied and illustrated the European species in a series of articles published in 1901, 1902 and 1905; subsequently, fossil skulls found in the Calvert Formation in Maryland and Virginia could be attributed to this genus.

References

^ "Eurhinodelphis Van Beneden & Gervais, 1880". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
^ ^a ^b Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 232. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

External links

Eurhinodelphis Information - Including an Excavation: Fossilguy.com

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[1] "Eurhinodelphis Van Beneden & Gervais, 1880". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2023-04-13.

[EoDP-2] Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 232. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

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