A new genus and species of eomysticetid (Cetacea: Mysticeti) and a reinterpretation of ‘Mauicetus’lophocephalus Marples, 1956: Transitional baleen whales from the upper Oligocene of New Zealand

摘要: The early evolution of toothless baleen whales (Chaeomysticeti) remains elusive, despite a robust record Eocene–Oligocene archaeocetes and toothed mysticetes. Eomysticetids, group archaic longirostrine putatively whales, fill in crucial morphological gap between well-known mysticetes more crownward Neogene Mysticeti. A historically important but perplexing cetacean is ‘Mauicetus’ lophocephalus (upper Oligocene South Island, New Zealand). discovery new skulls skeletons eomysticetids from the Kokoamu Greensand Otekaike Limestone permit redescription modern reinterpretation lophocephalus, indicating that this species may have retained adult teeth. Tokarahia kauaeroa gen. et sp. nov. erected on basis well-preserved subadult to skull with mandibles, tympanoperiotics, cervical thoracic vertebrae, ribs, sternum, forelimbs (> 25.2 Mya). relatively similar recombined as lophocephalus. Phylogenetic analysis supports inclusion within Eomysticetidae, alongside Eomysticetus, Micromysticetus, Yamatocetus, Tohoraata, strongly monophyly Eomysticetidae. lacked extreme rostral kinesis extant Mysticeti, primitively delicate archaeocete-like posterior mandible synovial temporomandibular joint, suggesting was capable of, at most, limited lunge feeding contrast Balaenopteridae, used an alternative as-yet unspecified strategy. © 2015 Linnean Society London