Kekenodon

Ke-ke-no-don.
By Benjamin Gutierrez
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Gutierrez, B. (2013, June 26). Kekenodon. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/kekenodon/

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Name

Kekenodon.

Phonetic

Ke-ke-no-don.

Named By

J.‭ ‬Hector‭ ‬-‭ ‬1881.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Cetacea,‭ ‬Kekenodontidae.

Diet

Uncertain,‭ ‬either a carnivore or filter feeder.

Species

K.‭ ‬onamata‭

Size

Uncertain but roughly estimated to be about‭ ‬7‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

New Zealand‭ ‬-‭ ‬Kokoamu Greensand Formation.

Time Period

Chattian of the Oligocene.

Fossil representation

Fragmentary skull and post cranial skeletal remains.‭

In Depth

       Originally though to be a member of the Archaeoceti,‭ ‬Kekenodon has more recently been considered to be a mysticetid‭ (‬baleen‭) ‬whale.‭ ‬Unfortunately the fragmentary nature of the holotype fossils makes is hard to be certain of distinct physical features about Kekenodon.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Notes on New Zealand Cetacea,‭ ‬recent and fossil.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute‭ ‬13:434-437.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J.‭ ‬Hector‭ ‬-‭ ‬1881.

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