''Echovenator'' ("echolocation hunter") is a genus of primitive odontocete from late Oligocene (

Chattian The Chattian is, in the geologic timescale, the younger of two ages or upper of two stages of the Oligocene Epoch/Series. It spans the time between . The Chattian is preceded by the Rupelian and is followed by the Aquitanian (the lowest stage ...

) marine deposits in South Carolina belonging to

Xenorophidae Xenorophidae is an extinct family of odontocetes currently known from the Oligocene of the southeastern US. Known genera of xenorophids include '' Albertocetus'', '' Archaeodelphis'', ''Xenorophus ''Xenorophus'' is a genus of primitive odonto ...

Description and paleobiology

''Echovenator'' is distinguishable from other xenorophids in having a paranaris

fossa Fossa may refer to: Animals * Fossa (animal), the common name of a carnivoran mammal of genus ''Cryptoprocta'' endemic to Madagascar * ''Fossa'', the Latin genus name of the Malagasy civet, a related but smaller mammal endemic to Madagascar Pla ...

and fused fronto-nasal and maxillo-premaxillary sutures. The earbone structure shows that this odontocete was clearly capable of echolocation..

References

Oligocene cetaceans Fossil taxa described in 2016 {{paleo-whale-stub