Rhaphicetus

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Rhaphicetus
Temporal range: Early Miocene 19–18 Ma
File:Rhaphicetus valenciae.png
Reconstruction of the skull
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Superfamily: Physeteroidea
Family: Incertae sedis
Genus: Rhaphicetus
Lambert et al., 2020
Species:
R. valenciae
Binomial name
Rhaphicetus valenciae
Lambert et al., 2020

Rhaphicetus is an extinct genus of physeteroid whale that lived in Peru in the lower Miocene epoch around 19-18 million years ago. This genus contains one species, Raphicetus valenciae, representing one of the earliest branching stem physteroid.[1]

Description

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This genus is medium sized with a estimated length of 4.7–5.7 metres (15–19 ft). It has a narrow and cylindrical rostrum that comprises nearly 75% of the condylobasal length. The upper jaw has at least 36 teeth per quadrant.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

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