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''Cotylocara'' is a genus of primitive
odontocete
The toothed whales (also called odontocetes, systematic name Odontoceti) are a parvorder of cetaceans that includes dolphins, porpoises, and all other whales with teeth, such as beaked whales and the sperm whales. 73 species of toothed whales are ...
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 of the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina. It belongs to the Xenorophidae.
Paleobiology
''Cotylocara'' was capable of echolocation like modern dolphins, as evidenced by its dense, thick and downturned rostrum, air sac fossae, cranial asymmetry, and exceptionally broad maxillae.Jonathan H. Geisler, Matthew W. Colbert, James L. Carew., 2014: ''A new fossil species supports an early origin for toothed whale echolocation.'' ''Nature''. doi:10.1038/nature13086References
Xenorophidae Oligocene cetaceans Fossil taxa described in 2014 {{paleo-whale-stub