''Kogiopsis'' is a genus of Middle
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
cetacean
Cetacea (; , ) is an infraorder of aquatic mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Key characteristics are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size and exclusively carnivorous diet. They propel them ...
from the family
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 ...
.
''Kogiopsis'' had very long teeth, long, without root. These teeth are found mostly in Florida and South Carolina. In addition to its teeth, ''Kogiopsis'' is known primarily from
mandible
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth, teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movabl ...
s. The anatomy of the teeth and lower jaws are similar to those of the extinct
sperm whale
The sperm whale or cachalot (''Physeter macrocephalus'') is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus ''Physeter'' and one of three extant species in the sperm whale famil ...
genus, ''
Orycterocetus
''Orycteocetus'' is an extinct genus of sperm whale from the Miocene of the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Classification
''Orycterocetus'' is a member of Physeteroidea closely related to crown-group sperm whales. The type species, ''O. quadratidens ...
''.
References
External links
*http://www.fossilsonline.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=415
*http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=basicTaxonInfo&taxon_no=36745
*http://www.blackriverfossils.org/Portals/0/Product/ditchweezil/DSC00746.JPG
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6425804
Miocene cetaceans
Fossil taxa described in 1929
Sperm whales
Prehistoric toothed whales
Prehistoric monotypic mammal genera
Miocene mammals of North America
Taxa named by Remington Kellogg