Agorophius

A-gor-ro-phy-us.
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Cassidy Wood

Paleoentomologist

Cassidy Wood uncovers the tiny yet significant world of prehistoric insects. Her research on amber-preserved specimens has revealed intricate details about ancient ecosystems.

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Name

Agorophius.

Phonetic

A-gor-ro-phy-us.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Cetacea,‭ ‬Odontoceti.

Diet

Carnivore/Piscivore.

Species

A.‭ ‬pygmaeus‭

Size

Unknown.

Known locations

USA,‭ ‬South Carolina‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ashley Formation.

Time Period

Rupelian of the Oligocene.

Fossil representation

Partial skull and tooth.

In Depth

       Agorophius seems to have been one of the early toothed whales of the Odontoceti,‭ ‬but unfortunately the holotype remains of this genus have now been lost.‭ ‬This makes further‭ ‬study of the genus with more modern methods and techniques impossible until either the holotypes are found or new fossils are recovered from the field.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Fourth contribution to the marine fauna of the Miocene period of the United States,‭ ‬Edward Drinker Cope‭ ‬-‭ ‬1895. -‭ ‬Systematics of the odontocete whale Agorophius pygmaeus and the Family Agorophiidae‭ (‬Mammalia:‭ ‬Cetacea‭)‬,‭ ‬R.‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Fordyce‭ ‬-‭ ‬1981.

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