A new genus and species of eomysticetid (Cetacea: Mysticeti) and a reinterpretation of ‘ Mauicetus’ lophocephalus Marples, 1956: Transitional baleen whales from the upper Oligocene of New Zealand
Author
Boessenecker, Robert W.
Author
Fordyce, R. Ewan
text
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
2015
Zool. J. Linn. Soc.
2015-08-28
175
3
607
660
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12297
journal article
10.1111/zoj.12297
0024-4082
5339858
D7129183-9324-49AD-A8E2-9D0CC8FF8037
TOKARAHIA
NEW GENUS
Etymology
Named
after the
Tokarahi township
, located near
Island Cliff
,
North
Otago
, the
type
locality of
T. kauaeroa
gen. et sp. nov.
, meaning large (or panoramic) rock, referring to a mesa-like geographic feature. From the Ma¯ ori ‘toka’ (rock) plus ‘rahi’ (large). Pronunciation: To-kah-rah-hi-ah, with
o
as in English ‘toe’,
a
as in ‘far’, and
i
as in ‘we’
.
Type
species:
Tokarahia kauaeroa
gen. et sp. nov.
Included species:
Tokarahia kauaeroa
gen. et sp. nov.
and
Tokarahia lophocephalus
Marples, 1956
.
Diagnosis of genus
A large eomysticetid differing from all other eomysticetids in possessing elongate, dorsoventrally tapering zygomatic processes that are medially bowed, with a concave lateral margin, an elongate diamondshaped posterior bullar facet lacking longitudinal striations, and a transverse crest on the dorsal surface of the periotic, between the posterodorsal angle and the posterior internal acoustic meatus. With the exception of
Tohoraata raekohao
,
Tokarahia
differs from all other eomysticetids in exhibiting numerous foramina in the supraorbital process of the frontal, an ovalshaped incisural flange closely appressed to the anteroventral part of the pars cochlearis, a prominent dorsal tubercle between the stylomastoid fossa and apertures for the cochlear and vestibular aqueducts, a triangular anterior process in medial view with a posteriorly placed anterodorsal angle, a concave anterodorsal margin between the anteroventral and anterodorsal angles, an internal acoustic meatus that is anteriorly transversely pinched, a posterodorsal angle that is more acute and approximately 90° or smaller, and lacking a posterior bullar facet that is ‘folded’ into two facets by a hingeline, and additionally lacking longitudinal striations on the posterior bullar facet.
Tokarahia
differs from
Tohoraata
in exhibiting medial and lateral lobes of the tympanic bulla of equivalent width, possessing a transversely narrower tympanic bulla, a longer posterior process of the periotic and shorter anterior process, and a more deeply excavat- ed suprameatal fossa.