PATTERNS OF SKULL VARIATION OF BRACHYDELPHIS (CETACEA, ODONTOCETI) FROM THE NEOGENE OF THE SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC

Gutstein, CS; Cozzuol, MA; Vargas, AO; Suarez, ME; Schultz, CL; Rubilar-Rogers, D

Abstract

Brachydelphis mazeasi Muizon, 1988a, from the Pisco Formation (middle Miocene, Peru), is an odontocete originally known from 2 incomplete skulls and a few associated postcranial elements, assigned to the family Pontoporiidae, and to the subfamily Brachydelphininae (= Brachydelphinae) created to include this genus. The holotype is considered here as a juvenile because it has no alveolar septa and presents wide-open cranial sutures. Consequently, some of the diagnostic features actually correspond to juvenile features and are not taxonomically significant. Here we offer a more comprehensive view of the morphology and variation of this taxon with new specimens from both Pisco and Bahía Inglesa formations (late Miocene, Chile). A revision of the original description of the genus, compared to other taxa of the Inioidea clade is provided. Additionally, a comparison by morphometric analysis (geometric and traditional) to Pontoporia blainvillei (living Pontoporiidae) is given. The shape variation of fetal, young, and adult specimens of P. blainvillei was compared to specimens of juvenile and adult B. mazeasi to evaluate ontogenetic, individual, and interspecific variation. © 2009 American Society of Mammalogists.

Más información

Título según WOS: PATTERNS OF SKULL VARIATION OF BRACHYDELPHIS (CETACEA, ODONTOCETI) FROM THE NEOGENE OF THE SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC
Título según SCOPUS: Patterns of skull variation of brachydelphis (Cetacea, Odontoceti) From the neogene of the southeastern pacific
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
Volumen: 90
Número: 2
Editorial: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 504
Página final: 519
Idioma: English
URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1644/07-MAMM-A-081.1
DOI:

10.1644/07-MAMM-A-081.1

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS