Eodelphinus | |
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Scientific classification![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Infraorder: | Cetacea |
Family: | Delphinidae |
Genus: | †Eodelphinus Murakami, Shimada, Hikida, and Soeda, 2014 |
Eodelphinus is an extinct genus of oceanic dolphins belonging to thefamilyDelphinidae.
Eodelphinus differs from all other delphinids by having a medially positioned premaxillary foramen, a partially transversely directed suture line between the palatine and pterygoid on the palate, and prominently long and ventrolaterally extended posterior process of the periotic with the attenuating posterior bullar facet. It possesses a wide ascending process of the left premaxilla relative to the right premaxilla at level of the middle of the external nares as in thekiller whale andHemisyntrachelus.[1]
Eodelphinus was originally described in 1977 as a new species ofStenella,S. kabatensis, from a partial skull found in marine deposits inHokkaido, Japan.[2] Later, Ichisima (2005) questioned the attribution ofS. kabatensis toStenella, stressing the need for re-assessment of the taxon.[3] Subsequent study by Mizuki Murakami and colleagues published in 2014 showed thatS. kabatensis is the most basal member ofDelphinidae, necessitating erection of the new genusEodelphis.[1] However, the genus name was changed toEodelphinus becauseEodelphis was already used for a fossil opossum.[4]