Topic
Physeteroidea
About: Physeteroidea is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 30 publications have been published within this topic receiving 929 citations. The topic is also known as: Physiteroidea.
Papers
TL;DR: Many of the clades within Odontoceti in the most parsimonious trees of this study are at odds with recent phylogenetic analyses, indicating that additional analyses, which include molecular and anatomical data as well as extant and extinct taxa, are needed.
Abstract: A cladistic analysis of 54 extant and extinct cetacean taxa scored for 304 morphological characters supports a monophyletic Odontoceti, Mysticeti, Autoceta, and Cetacea. Forcing a sister-group relationship between Mysticeti and Physeteridae, as suggested by some, but not all, molecular studies, requires an additional 72 steps. In agreement with recent molecular studies, morphological data divide extant mysticetes into two clades: Balaenopteroidea (Eschrichtiidae + Balaenopteridae) and Balaenoidea (Balaenidae + Neobalaenidae). Cetotheriopsinae is removed from Cetotheriidae, elevated to Family Cetotheriopsidae, and placed within the Superfamily Eomysticetoidea. All extant mysticetes and all cetotheriids are placed in a new Parvorder Balaenomorpha, which is diagnosed by many morphological characters, including fusion of the anterior and posterior processes of petrosal to ectotympanic bulla, pronounced median keel on palate, and absence of ventral margin of sigmoid process of bulla. Many of the clades within Odontoceti in the most parsimonious trees of this study are at odds with recent phylogenetic analyses. For example, Platanistidae is not closely related to the extinct odontocete families Squalodontidae and Squalodelphinidae. Instead, it is more closely related to extant river-dwelling odontocetes (i.e., Lipotes, Inia), suggesting a single dispersal of odontocetes into freshwater habitats. We found several characters to support Physeteroidea (Physeteridae + Ziphiidae), a taxon considered paraphyletic by several molecular and some morphological analyses. Lack of agreement on the phylogeny within Odontoceti indicates that additional analyses, which include molecular and anatomical data as well as extant and extinct taxa, are needed.
204 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that Leviathan fed mostly on high-energy content medium-size baleen whales, together with the contemporaneous giant shark Carcharocles megalodon, which had a profound impact on the structuring of Miocene marine communities.
Abstract: The modern giant sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus, one of the largest known predators, preys upon cephalopods at great depths. Lacking a functional upper dentition, it relies on suction for catching its prey; in contrast, several smaller Miocene sperm whales (Physeteroidea) have been interpreted as raptorial (versus suction) feeders, analogous to the modern killer whale Orcinus orca. Whereas very large physeteroid teeth have been discovered in various Miocene localities, associated diagnostic cranial remains have not been found so far. Here we report the discovery of a new giant sperm whale from the Middle Miocene of Peru (approximately 12-13 million years ago), Leviathan melvillei, described on the basis of a skull with teeth and mandible. With a 3-m-long head, very large upper and lower teeth (maximum diameter and length of 12 cm and greater than 36 cm, respectively), robust jaws and a temporal fossa considerably larger than in Physeter, this stem physeteroid represents one of the largest raptorial predators and, to our knowledge, the biggest tetrapod bite ever found. The appearance of gigantic raptorial sperm whales in the fossil record coincides with a phase of diversification and size-range increase of the baleen-bearing mysticetes in the Miocene. We propose that Leviathan fed mostly on high-energy content medium-size baleen whales. As a top predator, together with the contemporaneous giant shark Carcharocles megalodon, it probably had a profound impact on the structuring of Miocene marine communities. The development of a vast supracranial basin in Leviathan, extending on the rostrum as in Physeter, might indicate the presence of an enlarged spermaceti organ in the former that is not associated with deep diving or obligatory suction feeding.
183 citations
TL;DR: A phylogenetic analysis based on 53 characters and 21 physeteroid species confirms the monophyly of Acrophyseter and groups this genus with the larger, middle to late Miocene macroraptorial stem physeteroids Brygmophyseter and Zygophyseter.
92 citations
TL;DR: Large body size, large teeth present in both lower and upper jaw, and anteroposteriorly elongated temporal fossa and zygomatic process of the squamosal indicate that this cetacean was an active predator adapted to feeding on large prey, similarly to the extant killer whale.
89 citations
TL;DR: A finely preserved skull with mandible and teeth associated, from the latest Miocene beds of the Pisco Formation, Sud-Sacaco, Peru, represents a new physeteroid genus and species, Acrophyseter deinodon.
56 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |