Cetotherium riabinini (Cetotherium crassangulum Cope 1895, USNM
V8517, Hofstein 1948, Gol’din et al. 2014; Late Miocene; NMNH-P 668/1; 2m in lenth), is known from a fairly complete dolphin-sized skeleton (Fig. 2) found in an ancient lake, the Paratetheys (above). Cetotherium had a relatively huge skull, massive rib cage, large manus (but see below) and a relatively short tail.
Cetotheres, according to Wikipedia, are “archaic mysticetes with a cranium that has ‘a long ascending process of the maxilla with anteriorly diverging lateral border that interdigitates with the frontal’ and some other characters”.
Three other cetiotheres here include Maiabalaena, Yamatocetus and Tokarahia. |
