| Huaridelphis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | †Squalodelphinidae |
| Genus: | †Huaridelphis Lambertet al. 2014 |
| Species: | †H. raimondii |
| Binomial name | |
| †Huaridelphis raimondii Lambertet al. 2014 | |
Huaridelphis is anextinctgenus ofriver dolphins from theEarly Miocene (Deseadan toFriasian in theSALMA classification).[1] Thetype species isH. raimondii, found in theChilcatay Formation of thePisco Basin.
The genus name is derived from the name of theHuari people, an ancient culture fromPeru, and from theLatin word for "dolphin";delphis. The specific name was chosen in honor ofAntonio Raimondi, an Italian geographer and the first person to discover fossilized whale remains in Peru.[1]
H. raimondii was a relatively small squalodelphinid, with abizygomatic breadth of 207 millimetres (8.1 in) and acondylobasal length of 494 millimetres (19.4 in). Therostrum, which was only slightlydorsoventrally flattened, and made up only 67% of the condylobasal length, considerably less than most squalodelphinids. Theantorbital notches were V-shaped and asymmetrical, with the right notch further back on the head than the left one. The species had 28-30 teeth per top row, withalveoli ranging in diameter between 3.7 and 5.5 millimetres (0.15 and 0.22 in). Teeth ranged from 3.35 to 6.4 millimetres (0.132 to 0.252 in) high at thecrown. Ribs measured around 260 millimetres (10 in).[1]
Fossils ofH. raimondii have been recovered from theChilcatay Formation in Ullujaya and Zamaca, in theIca Region of Peru.[1]
The specimens date from theEarly Miocene. Specimens were found along with fossils ofIsurus desori andCarcharocles chubutensis (two species of sharks), as well as those ofbaleen whales,Teleostei, andsea turtles. Injuries, probably from sharks, were observed on at least two of the fossils.[1]