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Lagenorhynchus Harmatuki
''Lagenorhynchus'' is a genus of oceanic dolphins in the infraorder Cetacea, presently containing six extant species. However, there is consistent molecular evidence that the genus is polyphyletic and several of the species are likely to be moved to other genera. In addition, the extinct species '' Lagenorhynchus harmatuki'' is also classified in this genus. Etymology The name ''Lagenorhynchus'' derives from the Greek ''lagenos'' meaning "bottle" and ''rhynchus'' meaning "beak". Indeed, the "bottle-nose" is a characteristic of this genus. However, the dolphins popularly called bottlenose dolphins belong in the genus '' Tursiops''. Taxonomy There is compelling evidence from molecular phylogeny that the genus ''Lagenorhynchus'' is polyphyletic, meaning that it currently contains several species that are not closely related. found that the white-beaked and Atlantic white-sided dolphins are phylogenetically isolated within the Delphinidae, where they are believed to be rath ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58See the 2014 version of the ICS geologic time scale million years ago. It is the second and most recent epoch of the Neogene Period in the . The Pliocene follows the Epoch and is followed by the Epoch. Prior to the 2009 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tursiops
Bottlenose dolphins are aquatic mammals in the genus ''Tursiops.'' They are common, cosmopolitan members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Molecular studies show the genus definitively contains two species: the common bottlenose dolphin (''Tursiops truncatus'') and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (''Tursiops aduncus''). Others, like the Burrunan dolphin (''Tursiops (aduncus) australis''), may be alternately considered their own species or be subspecies of ''T. aduncus''. Bottlenose dolphins inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide, being found everywhere except for the Arctic and Antarctic Circle regions. Their name derives from the Latin ''tursio'' (dolphin) and ''truncatus'' for their characteristic truncated teeth. Numerous investigations of bottlenose dolphin intelligence have been conducted, examining mimicry, use of artificial language, object categorization, and self-recognition. They can use tools (sponging; using marine sponges to forage ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kogiidae
Kogiidae is a family comprising at least two extant species of Cetacea, the Pygmy sperm whale, pygmy (''Kogia breviceps)'' and dwarf sperm whale, dwarf (''K. sima)'' sperm whales. As their common names suggest, they somewhat resemble sperm whales, with squared heads and small lower jaws, but are much smaller in size, with much shorter skulls and more notable dorsal fins than sperm whales. Kogiids are also characterized by a "false gill slit" behind their eyes. A number of genera are extinct. Taxonomy There is some amount of uncertainty over if Kogiidae belongs in the sperm whale family. Research still suggests a close relationship between Kogiidae and sperm whales using mitochondrial DNA, which supports Kogiidae as part of the sperm whale family. This relationship is supported by similarities of the anatomical structures in the read, responsible for sound production, in particular the presence of a spermaceti organ. Other phylogenetic research raises further questions over a pot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phocoenidae
Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals and belugas than to the true dolphins. There are eight extant species of porpoise, all among the smallest of the toothed whales. Porpoises are distinguished from dolphins by their flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins, and lack of a pronounced beak, although some dolphins (e.g. Hector's dolphin) also lack a pronounced beak. Porpoises, and other cetaceans, belong to the clade Cetartiodactyla with even-toed ungulates. Porpoises range in size from the vaquita, at in length and in weight, to the Dall's porpoise, at and . Several species exhibit sexual dimorphism in that the females are larger than males. They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. Porpoises use echolocatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sagmatias
''Sagmatias'' was a genus of Dolphin, dolphins, defined in 1866 by Edward Drinker Cope with Peale's dolphin as type species, described as ''Sagmatias amblodon''. It has been proposed to resurrect the genus to include four species of oceanic dolphins currently classified in the genus ''Lagenorhynchus''. Mitochondrial DNA studies have indicated that Pacific white-sided dolphin, Peale's dolphin, dusky dolphin and hourglass dolphin are more closely related to dolphins in the Lissodelphininae subfamily, than to the two other members of the genus: Atlantic white-sided dolphin and white-beaked dolphin. This phylogenetic relationship is further supported by cladistic analysis of morphological characters. However, resurrection of the genus ''Sagmatias'' has not been accepted by the Society for Marine Mammalogy's taxonomic Committee, because the finer details of the phylogenetic relationships between the four species in the proposed ''Sagmatias'' genus and the four species of dolphins in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hector's Dolphin
Hector's dolphin (''Cephalorhynchus hectori'') is one of four dolphin species belonging to the genus ''Cephalorhynchus''. Hector's dolphin is the only cetacean endemic to New Zealand, and comprises two subspecies: ''C. h. hectori'', the more numerous subspecies, also referred to as South Island Hector's dolphin; and the critically endangered Māui dolphin (''C. h. maui''), found off the West Coast of the North Island. Etymology Hector's dolphin was named after Sir James Hector (1834–1907), who was the curator of the Colonial Museum in Wellington (now the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa). He examined the first specimen of the dolphin found by cephologists. The species was scientifically described by Belgian zoologist Pierre-Joseph van Beneden in 1881. Māori names for Hector's and Māui dolphin include ''tutumairekurai, tupoupou'' and ''popoto''. Description Hector's dolphin is the smallest dolphin species. Mature adults have a total length of and weigh .Slooten, E. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cephalorhynchus
''Cephalorhynchus'' is a genus in the dolphin family Delphinidae. Extant species It consists of four species: The species have similar physical features—they are small, generally playful, blunt-nosed dolphins—but they are found in distinct geographical locations. A phylogenetic analysis by indicated the two species traditionally assigned to the genus ''Lagenorhynchus'', the hourglass dolphin ''L. cruciger'' and Peale's dolphin Peale's dolphin (''Lagenorhynchus australis'') is a small dolphin found in the waters around Tierra del Fuego at the foot of South America. It is also commonly known as the black-chinned dolphin or even Peale's black-chinned dolphin. However, si ... ''L. australis'' are actually phylogenetically nested among the species of ''Cephalorhynchus'', and they suggest these two species should be transferred to the genus ''Cephalorhynchus''. Some acoustic and morphological data support this arrangement, at least with respect to Peale's dolphin. Accord ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Right Whale Dolphin
Right whale dolphins are cetaceans belonging to the genus ''Lissodelphis''. It contains the northern right whale dolphin (''Lissodelphis borealis'') and the southern right whale dolphin (''Lissodelphis peronii''). These cetaceans are predominantly black, white beneath, and some of the few without a dorsal fin or ridge. They are smaller members of the delphinid family, oceanic dolphins, and very slender. Despite scientists being long acquainted with the species (the Northern species was identified by Titian Peale in 1848 and the Southern by Bernard Germain de la Cépède in 1804), little is known about them in terms of life history and behaviour. Physical description Both species have slender bodies, small, pointed flippers and a small fluke. Conspicuously, neither species has a dorsal fin; nor do right whales and this may explain the dolphins' name. The northern right whale dolphin is the only dolphin in the Pacific with this property. Similarly, the Southern is the only finl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lissodelphininae
Oceanic dolphins or Delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. Close to forty extant species are recognised. They include several big species whose common names contain "whale" rather than "dolphin", such as the Globicephalinae (round-headed whales including the orca and pilot whale). Delphinidae is a family within the superfamily Delphinoidea, which also includes the porpoises (Phocoenidae) and the Monodontidae (beluga whale and narwhal). River dolphins are relatives of the Delphinoidea. Oceanic dolphins range in size from the and Maui's dolphin to the and orca, the largest known dolphin. Several species exhibit sexual dimorphism; the males are larger than females. They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. Though not quite as flexible as seals, some dolphins can travel at speeds 29 km/h (18 mph) for short distances. Most delphinids primarily eat fish, along with a smaller number of squid and small ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orcininae
Orcininae is a contested subfamily of oceanic dolphins composed of 1 living and 3 extinct genera. It may be superseded by Delphinidae. Its only extant member is the orca (''Orcinus orca''); all other extant genera formerly classified in it have been moved out. Orcininae is thought to be one of the most basal members of Delphinidae, with only the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (''Lagenorhynchus acutus'') being more basal. Classification *'' Arimidelphis'' † **''Arimidelphis sorbinii'' † *''Hemisyntrachelus'' † **''Hemisyntrachelus cortesii'' **''Hemisyntrachelus pisanus'' *''Orcinus'' **''Orcinus citoniensis'' † **''Orcinus meyeri'' † **''Orcinus orca'' **''Orcinus paleorca ''Orcinus paleorca'' is a fossil species of ''Orcinus'', the genus of killer whales (orca), dated to the Middle Pleistocene. The only known specimen is a tooth fragment discovered in Honshu, Japan. Taxonomy The holotype specimen, a tooth fragmen ...'' † *'' Platalearostrum'' † **''Platalearo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Killer Whale
The orca or killer whale (''Orcinus orca'') is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Orcinus'' and is recognizable by its black-and-white patterned body. A cosmopolitan species, orcas can be found in all of the world's oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Orcas have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and other species of dolphin. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves, and even adult whales. Orcas are apex predators, as they have no natural predators. They are highly social; some populations are composed of very stable matrilineal family groups (pods) which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oceanic Dolphin
Oceanic dolphins or Delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. Close to forty extant species are recognised. They include several big species whose common names contain "whale" rather than "dolphin", such as the Globicephalinae (round-headed whales including the orca and pilot whale). Delphinidae is a family within the superfamily Delphinoidea, which also includes the porpoises (Phocoenidae) and the Monodontidae (beluga whale and narwhal). River dolphins are relatives of the Delphinoidea. Oceanic dolphins range in size from the and Maui's dolphin to the and orca, the largest known dolphin. Several species exhibit sexual dimorphism; the males are larger than females. They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. Though not quite as flexible as seals, some dolphins can travel at speeds 29 km/h (18 mph) for short distances. Most delphinids primarily eat fish, along with a smaller number of squid and small ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
