Cetotherium
Encyclopedia
Cetotherium is a genus
of the extinct cetaceans from the family Cetotheriidae (the cetotheriids or cetotheres).
epoch. The cetotheres have been divided in to two sub-groups. One group includes Cetotherium. From evolutionary perspective, these whales share some characteristics of the Balaenopteridae and Eschrichtiidae
.
and great white shark
s). The raptorial toothed whale
Livyatan melvillei
may too, have posed a threat.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the extinct cetaceans from the family Cetotheriidae (the cetotheriids or cetotheres).
Known species
To date, several whales of the genus Cetotherium have been identified; C. furlongi, C. mayeri, C. megalophysum, C. parvum, C. priscum, and C. rathkii.Evolution
Cetotheres came in to existence during the OligoceneOligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
epoch. The cetotheres have been divided in to two sub-groups. One group includes Cetotherium. From evolutionary perspective, these whales share some characteristics of the Balaenopteridae and Eschrichtiidae
Eschrichtiidae
Eschrichtiidae is a family of baleen whales in the suborder Mysticeti.At least five genera are recognised, but only a single species from one genus is still alive, the gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus....
.
Potential threats
Fossil records of Cetotheriids indicate that these whales were attacked and preyed upon by large predatory sharks (e.g. megalodonMegalodon
The megalodon and ὀδούς ) is an extinct species of shark that lived roughly from 28 to 1.5 million years ago, during the Cenozoic Era .The taxonomic assignment of C...
and great white shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
s). The raptorial toothed whale
Toothed whale
The toothed whales form a suborder of the cetaceans, including sperm whales, beaked whales, dolphins, and others. As the name suggests, the suborder is characterized by the presence of teeth rather than the baleen of other whales.-Anatomy:Toothed whales have a single blowhole on the top of the head...
Livyatan melvillei
Livyatan melvillei
Livyatan melvillei is an extinct species of physeteroid whale, which lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 12-13 million years ago.- Discovery :...
may too, have posed a threat.
General references
- Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. (1999): The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures: A Visual Who's Who of Prehistoric Life. Simon & Schuster.