''Herentalia'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
cetotheriid
Cetotheriidae is a family of baleen whales (parvorder Mysticeti). The family is known to have existed from the Late Oligocene to the Early Pleistocene before going extinct. Although some phylogenetic studies conducted by recovered the living ...
mysticete
Baleen whales (systematic name Mysticeti), also known as whalebone whales, are a parvorder of carnivorous marine mammals of the infraorder Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises) which use keratinaceous baleen plates (or "whalebone") in their m ...
in the subfamily
Herpetocetinae. Remains have been found in Late Miocene marine deposits in Belgium.
Description
''Herentalia'' is distinguished from other cetotheriids in being larger and more robust, and in having ascending processes of the maxilla with rounded posterior ends. The species name ''nigra'' means "black" and refers to the color of the fossilized bone of the holotype.
[Bisconti, Michelangelo (2015). "Anatomy of a new cetotheriid genus and species from the Miocene of Herentals, Belgium, and the phylogenetic and palaeobiogeographical relationships of Cetotheriidae s.s. (Mammalia, Cetacea, Mysticeti)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 13 (5): 377–395. doi:10.1080/14772019.2014.890136.]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q48966037
Baleen whales
Miocene cetaceans
Prehistoric mammals of Europe
Fossil taxa described in 2015
Prehistoric cetacean genera