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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 It may be superseded by Delphinidae.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] |
Delphinidae
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] |
Orcinus Citoniensis
''Orcinus citoniensis'' is an extinct species of killer whale identified in the Late Pliocene of Italy and the Early Pleistocene of England. It was smaller than the modern killer whale (''O. orca''), versus , and had around 8 more teeth in its jaw. It may have resembled the modern killer whale in appearance, and could represent a transitional species between the modern killer whale and other dolphins. ''O. citoniensis'' could have hunted fish and squid in pods, and coexisted with other large predators of the time such as the orcinine ''Hemisyntrachelus'' and the extinct shark ''Otodus megalodon''. Taxonomy The holotype specimen, MB-1COC-11.17.18, an incomplete skeleton, was first described by paleontologist Giovanni Capellini as ''Orca citoniensis'' in 1883 which came from the Late Pliocene sediments of the Poltriciano farm outside the town of Cetona in Tuscany, Italy–to which the species name "''citoniensis''" refers to. Capellini also referred to the whale as "''O. citonie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orcinus
''Orcinus'' is a genus of Delphinidae, the family of carnivorous marine mammals known as dolphins. It includes the largest delphinid species, ''Orcinus orca'', known as the orca or killer whale. Two extinct species are recognised, '' Orcinus paleorca'' and '' O. citoniensis'', describing fossilised remains of the genus. The other extinct species '' O. meyeri'' is disputed. Taxonomy The genus ''Orcinus'' was published by Leopold Fitzinger in 1860, its type species is the orca named by Linnaeus in 1758 as ''Delphinus orca''. Taxonomic arrangements of delphinids published by workers before and after Fitzinger, such as John Edward Gray as ''Orca'' in 1846 and ''Orca'' (''Gladiator'') in 1870, are recognised as synonyms of ''Orcinus''. The descriptions of species as ''Orcinus glacialis'' Berzin and Vladimirov, 1983 and ''Orcinus nanus'' Mikhalev and Ivashin, 1981 are considered synonyms of ''Orcinus orca'', the existing species of orca. ''Orcinus'' means "of the kingdom of the dead" ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orca
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 taxon, 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 Ocean, Arctic and Southern Ocean, 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 Pinniped, 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 animal, social; some populations are composed of very stable matrilineal family groups (pods) which are the most stable of any animal species. Their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, basal is the direction of the ''base'' (or root) of a phylogenetic tree#Rooted tree, rooted phylogenetic tree or cladogram. The term may be more strictly applied only to nodes adjacent to the root, or more loosely applied to nodes regarded as being close to the root. Note that extant taxa that lie on branches connecting directly to the root are not more closely related to the root than any other extant taxa. While there must always be two or more equally "basal" clades sprouting from the root of every cladogram, those clades may differ widely in taxonomic rank, Phylogenetic diversity, species diversity, or both. If ''C'' is a basal clade within ''D'' that has the lowest rank of all basal clades within ''D'', ''C'' may be described as ''the'' basal taxon of that rank within ''D''. The concept of a 'key innovation' implies some degree of correlation between evolutionary innovation and cladogenesis, diversification. However, such a correlation does not make a given ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin
The Atlantic white-sided dolphin (''Lagenorhynchus acutus'') is a distinctively coloured dolphin found in the cool to temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Description The dolphin is slightly larger than most other oceanic dolphins. It is just over a meter in length at birth, growing to about (males) and (females) at maturity. It weighs 180–230 kg (400- 510 lb) once fully-grown. Females reach sexual maturity at between 6 and 12 years, and males between 7 and 11 years. The gestation period is 11 months and lactation lasts for about 18 months — both typical figures for dolphins. Individuals are known to live for at least 17 years. The key distinguishing feature is the white to pale yellow patch found behind the dorsal fin of the dolphin on each side. This colour variation is unique amongst the mixtures of white, greys and blues of other pelagic cetaceans. The rest of the body's coloration is well demarcated: the chin, throat and belly are white; the flippe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hemisyntrachelus
''Hemisyntrachelus'' is an extinct genus of cetacean.''Hemisyntrachelus'' at .org Fossil records This genus is known in the s from the latest Miocene to the (age range: from 5.332 to 1.806 million years ago). Fossils are found in the marine strata of |
Orcinus Meyeri
''Orcinus meyeri'' is a fossil species of ''Orcinus'' (killer whales) found in the Early Miocene deposits of southern Germany, known from two jaw fragments and 18 isolated teeth. It was originally described as ''Delphinus acutidens'' in 1859, but reclassified in 1873. Its validity is disputed, and it may be a synonymous with the ancient sperm whale '' Physeterula dubusi''. It was found in the Alpine town of Stockach in the Molasse basin, which was a coastal area with strong tidal currents. Taxonomy The remains of ''Orcinus meyeri'' was first described in 1859 by German paleontologist Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer as an ancient common dolphin, ''Delphinus acutidens'', based on two jaw fragments and some isolated teeth found near the south German town of Stockach. He also suggested the names ''Delphinus (Beluga) acutidens'' and ''D. (Orcopsis) acutidens''. The species name ''acutidens'' derives from Latin ''acutus'' "sharp" and ''dens'' "teeth". In 1873, German naturalist J ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orcinus Orca
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 of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 fragment, was found by G. Natsume in the Sanuki Formation in the Kazusa Province of Honshu, Japan–an area dating back to the Middle Pleistocene–and described in 1937 by Japanese paleontologist Hikoshichiro Matsumoto. ''Orcinus paleorca'' could represent the ancestor of the modern killer whale (''Orcinus orca''). Matsumoto noted that the teeth of ''O. paleorca'' are much larger and have more similar dimensions to the modern killer whale than those of the Pliocene '' O. citoniensis'' are. Description The tooth is conical and belonged to the upper right or lower left jaw of an adult individual. The tooth fragment is in height–though the actual height may have been double that– longitudinally–from the side facing the tongue to the side ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
