In Depth Synthetoceras is one of the better known members of the Protoceratidae, and this is thanks to the head ornamentation of the males of this genus. Rising above the eyes and ears was a pair of horns that curved upwards forming a crescent shape when viewed from the front. Then things get a little … Read more
In Depth Taikicetus is a genus of baleen whale that lived in waters around Japan during the Miocene. Further Reading - A new species of Middle Miocene baleen whale from the Nupinai Group, Hikatagawa Formation of Hokkaido, Japan. - PeerJ 6:e4934. - Y. Tanaka, T. Ando & H. Sawamura - 2018.
In Depth Maiabalaena is a genus of whale that lived in waters around North America during the Oligocene period. Maiabalaena is noted for having neither teeth nor baleen, with the genus describers postulating that whales may have lost teeth before developing baleen. Maiabalaena is thought to have been a suction feeder, opening its mouth wide … Read more
In Depth Incakujira is a genus of rorqual whale known to have lived in the waters around South America during the Miocene. As a filter feeder, Incakujira probably filtered out small crustaceans such as krill from the sea water as it swam. Further Reading - A new Miocene baleen whale from the Peruvian desert. - … Read more
In Depth Kubanochoerus is a genus of extinct long legged pig that seems to have had a very broad distribution reaching from Russia to China and across to at least eastern Africa throughout most of the Miocene. The most distinctive feature of Kubanochoerus is the skull which is proportionately long when compared to modern pigs, … Read more
In Depth Jaggermeryx is a genus of anthracothere that lived in Egypt during the Miocene period. Jaggermeryx is noted for having jawbones which have eight mental foramen on each size, which is a strong indicator that Jaggermeryx had very sensitive lips as well as a snout. These feeding adaptations would have had a very fleshy … Read more
In Depth Toipahautea is a genus of baleen whale that lived in waters around new Zealand during the Oligocene. Further Reading - A new archaic baleen whale Toipahautea waitaki (early Late Oligocene, New Zealand) and the origins of crown Mysticeti. - Royal Society Open Science 5(4):172453. - C.-H. Tsai & R. E. Fordyce - 2018.
In Depth Platygonus is an extinct genus of peccary, a kind of artiodactyl mammal that is similar to a pig in physical appearance and ecological niche, yet is of a completely separate family. With larger Platygonus approaching one meter in length, they were quite a bit larger than modern peccaries. Platygonus may have been hunted … Read more
In Depth Although certainly not the only North American camel known to us, Camelops seems to have been the last to go extinct. The theories as to why this happened are controversial but in the case of Camelops human hunting was certainly a contributing factor since evidence of butchery (the processing of a carcass for … Read more
In Depth Gagadon is a genus of artiodactylan mammal that lived in North America during the Eocene. Gagadon is named after the pop singer Lady Gaga. Also in 2014 another mammal genus was named after a famous singer, this time Mick Jagger, and the animal genus in question being Jaggermeryx. Further Reading - A new … Read more