<i>Septidelphis morii</i>, n. gen. et sp., from the Pliocene of Italy: new evidence of the explosive radiation of true dolphins (Odontoceti, Delphinidae)

Bianucci, Giovanni

doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.744757

Cited by 32 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…From there, the height increases gradually towards the posterior end of the alveolar portion. The dorsal margin of the mandible reaches a maximum elevation 40 mm posterior to the last alveolus, forming a low but distinct precoronoid crest as observed in all other ziphiids ( Lambert, Bianucci & Post, 2009 , Lambert, de Muizon & Bianucci, 2013 ; Bianucci, Lambert & Post, 2010 ), but also in some delphinids ( Fordyce, Quilty & Daniels, 2002 ; Bianucci, 2013 ). If the dorsal margin of the alveolar portion is positioned parallel to the horizontal plane, the precoronoid crest of Chavinziphius reaches approximately the same dorsoventral elevation as the coronoid process, with the dorsal margin of the coronoid crest being weakly concave.…”

Section: Description and Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 56%

New beaked whales from the late Miocene of Peru and evidence for convergent evolution in stem and crown Ziphiidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

Bianucci

Celma

Urbina

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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The Ziphiidae (beaked whales) represent a large group of open-ocean odontocetes (toothed cetaceans), whose elusive and deep diving behavior prevents direct observation in their natural habitat. Despite their generally large body size, broad geographical distribution, and high species number, ziphiids thus remain poorly known. Furthermore, the evolutionary processes that have led to their extreme adaptations and impressive extant diversity are still poorly understood. Here we report new fossil beaked whales from the late Miocene of the Pisco Formation (southern Peru). The best preserved remains here described are referred to two new genera and species, the Messinian Chavinziphius maxillocristatus and the Tortonian Chimuziphius coloradensis, based on skull remains from two marine vertebrate-rich localities: Cerro Los Quesos and Cerro Colorado, respectively. C. maxillocristatus is medium sized retains a complete set of functional lower teeth, and bears robust rostral maxillary crests similar to those of the extant Berardius. By contrast, C. coloradensis is small and characterized by large triangular nasals and moderately thickened premaxillae that dorsally close the mesorostral groove. Both species confirm the high past diversity of Ziphiidae, the richest cetacean family in terms of the number of genera and species. Our new phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses depart markedly from earlier studies in dividing beaked whales into two major clades: the Messapicetus clade, which, along with other stem ziphiids, once dominated the southeastern Pacific and North Atlantic; and crown Ziphiidae, the majority of which are found in deep-water regions of the Southern Ocean, with possible subsequent dispersal both globally (Mesoplodon and Ziphius) and to the cooler waters of the northern oceans (Berardius and Hyperoodon). Despite this relatively clear separation, both lineages seem to follow similar evolutionary trends, including (1) a progressive reduction of dentition; (2) an increase in the compactness and thickness of the rostral bones; (3) similar changes in facial morphology (e.g., elevation of the vertex); and (4) an increase of body size. We suggest that these trends may be linked to a convergent ecological shift to deep diving and suction feeding.

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Section: Description and Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 56%

New beaked whales from the late Miocene of Peru and evidence for convergent evolution in stem and crown Ziphiidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

Bianucci

Celma

Urbina

et al. 2016

PeerJ

Self Cite

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“…And molecular data (Rosel et al 1995) suggest a relatively recent radiation and dispersal for crown phocoenids, during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene for which fewer marine mammal fossil localities yielding phocoenid remains are available (e.g., Harington 1977;Post 2005). It is interesting to note that a rather similar process was recently proposed to account for the fossil record and extant diversity of delphinids (true dolphins; Bianucci 2013).…”

Section: Editors' Choicementioning

confidence: 97%

Out of the Pacific: a second fossil porpoise from the Pliocene of the North Sea Basin

Colpaert¹,

Bosselaers²,

Lambert³

2014

APP

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“…Fossil cetaceans are abundant in Neogene shallow marine sediments of Italy, particularly in the central and northern regions of Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany (Bianucci & Landini , ; Bisconti ; Bianucci ). Museum collections host specimens excavated from the nineteenth century, and for many of them, information on the stratigraphic and taphonomic settings at the excavation sites is available (Cortesi ; Capellini ; Strobel ; Portis ; Caretto ; Sarti & Gasparri ; Chicchi & Scacchetti ).…”

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confidence: 99%

A record of fossil shallow-water whale falls from Italy

Danise

Dominici²

2014

LET

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Twenty‐five Neogene–Quaternary whales hosted in Italian museum collections and their associated fauna were analysed for evidence of whale‐fall community development in shallow‐water settings. The degree of bone articulation, completeness of the skeleton and lithology of the embedding sediments were used to gather information on relative water depth, water energy, sedimentation rate and overall environmental predictability around the bones. Shark teeth and hard‐shelled invertebrates with a necrophagous diet in close association with the bones were used as evidence of scavenging. Fossil bone bioerosion, microbially mediated cementation and other mollusc shells in the proximity of the remains informed on past biological activity around the bones. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that shallow‐water whale falls differ from their deep‐water counterparts. Taphonomic pathways are more variable on the shelf and whale carcasses may not go through all steps of the ecological succession as recognised in the deep sea. Whilst the mobile scavenger and the enrichment opportunistic stages are well represented, chemosynthetic taxa typical of the sulphophilic stage were recovered only in one instance. The presence of a generalist fauna among the suspension feeding bivalves and carnivorous gastropods, and the extreme rarity of chemosynthetic taxa, suggest that predatory pressure rules out whale‐fall specialists from shallow shelf settings as in analogous cold seep and vent shallow‐water communities.

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Septidelphis morii, n. gen. et sp., from the Pliocene of Italy: new evidence of the explosive radiation of true dolphins (Odontoceti, Delphinidae)

Cited by 32 publications

References 64 publications

New beaked whales from the late Miocene of Peru and evidence for convergent evolution in stem and crown Ziphiidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

New beaked whales from the late Miocene of Peru and evidence for convergent evolution in stem and crown Ziphiidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

Out of the Pacific: a second fossil porpoise from the Pliocene of the North Sea Basin

A record of fossil shallow-water whale falls from Italy

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