Kogiopsis

Ko-gee-op-sis.
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Emily Green

Paleobotanist

Emily Green brings the ancient world of plants to life through her insightful research and engaging writing. Her expertise lies in examining how prehistoric vegetation influenced climate patterns and animal evolution.

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Name

Kogiopsis

Phonetic

Ko-gee-op-sis.

Named By

Remington Kellogg - 1929.

Classification

Chordata, Mammalia, Cetacea, Odontoceti, Physeteridae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

K. floridana

Size

Uncertain.

Known locations

USA. Usually associated with Florida, but fossils also reported from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Time Period

Miocene to Pliocene.

Fossil representation

Teeth.

In Depth

       Although only known from teeth, these have confirmed that Kogiopsis is an extinct sperm whale. The teeth of Kogiopsis had crowns that were between three and five centimetres long, and may have been used against other marine mammals such as smaller whales. The teeth of Kogiopsis are often available to buy through fossil dealers.

Further Reading

Further reading- A new fossil toothed whale from Florida. American Museum Novitates 389:1-10. – R. Kellogg – 1929.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT