Kentriodontidae
Encyclopedia
Kentriodontidae is an extinct family of odontocet whales related to modern dolphins. The Family lived from the Oligocene
to the Pliocene
before going extinct.
, or of uncertain placement in the family.
Oligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
to the Pliocene
Pliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
before going extinct.
Taxonomy
The kentriodontids are grouped in three subfamilies with two genera considered incertae sedisIncertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
, or of uncertain placement in the family.
- Family Kentriodontidae
- Subfamily Kentriodontinae
- Belonodelphis
- Delphinodon
- Incacetus
- KentriodonKentriodonKentriodon is an extinct species of toothed whale. Fossils have been found in Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and the United States.Kentriodon was the most diverse of all the kentriodontids, which include three named species and five undescribed species...
(syn. Grypolithax) - Macrokentriodon
- Microphocaena
- Rudicetus
- Tagicetus
- Subfamily Lophocetinae
- Hadrodelphis
- Liolithax
- Lophocetus
- Subfamily Pithanodelphininae
- Atocetus
- Leptodelphis
- Pithanodelphis
- Sophianacetus (syn. Mediocris)
- Subfamily incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Sarmatodelphis
- Kampholophos
- Subfamily Kentriodontinae