Ankylorhiza

An-ky-lo-ry-sah.
By Harper Gray
Published on

Harper Gray

Paleoartist

Harper Grey combines artistic talent with scientific precision to bring extinct creatures and environments back to life. Collaborating closely with paleontologists

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Gray, H. (2013, March 7). Ankylorhiza. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/ankylorhiza/

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Name

Ankylorhiza ‭(‬fused roots‭)‬.

Phonetic

An-ky-lo-ry-sah.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mamamlia,‭ ‬Artiodactyla,‭ ‬Cetacea,‭ ‬Odontoceti.

Diet

Piscivore/carnivore.

Species

A.‭ ‬tiedemani‭

Size

Estimated to be about‭ ‬4.8‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

USA,‭ ‬South Carolina‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ashley Formation.

Time Period

Oligocene.

Fossil representation

Partial remains of several individuals.

In Depth

       Ankylorhiza is a genus of dolphin known to have lived in waters around eastern North America during the Oligocene.‭ ‬Ankylorhiza was one of the larger toothed whales for its time and would have likely been a predator of everything from fish to other large marine creatures,‭ ‬possibly even whales.‭ ‬The incisor teeth of Ankylorhiza point forwards leading to speculation that Ankylorhiza may have rammed prey animals so that the teeth would cut into the body of their prey causing grievous injuries.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Convergent Evolution of Swimming Adaptations in Modern Whales Revealed by a Large Macrophagous Dolphin from the Oligocene of South Carolina.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Current Biology.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Robert W.‭ ‬Boessenecker,‭ ‬Morgan Churchill,‭ ‬Emily A.‭ ‬Buchholtz,‭ ‬Brian L.‭ ‬Beatty‭ & ‬Jonathan H.‭ ‬Geisler‭ ‬-‭ ‬2020.

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