Zygophyseter
Encyclopedia
Zygophyseter varolai is an extinct cetacea
n, similar to the sperm whale
. The common name of "killer sperm whale" refers both to its relation to modern day sperm whales, and to its similarity in size to and its "probable similar feeding adaptation to the extant delphinid killer whale (Orcinus orca)".
The description for Zygophyseter varolai, published in 2006, is the only species in the genus Zygophyseter. This was based on a fossil
, an almost complete skeleton, which dates from the Tortonian
Age of the Late Miocene
Epoch of Southern Italy
. It has a very long zygomatic process
, probably for housing the spermaceti
organ. Z. varolai has a large body size with large teeth present in both jaws making it capable of feeding on large prey.
Cetacea
The order Cetacea includes the marine mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal", was more general. It comes from Ancient Greek , meaning "whale" or "any huge fish or sea...
n, similar to the sperm whale
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter...
. The common name of "killer sperm whale" refers both to its relation to modern day sperm whales, and to its similarity in size to and its "probable similar feeding adaptation to the extant delphinid killer whale (Orcinus orca)".
The description for Zygophyseter varolai, published in 2006, is the only species in the genus Zygophyseter. This was based on a fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
, an almost complete skeleton, which dates from the Tortonian
Tortonian
The Tortonian is in the geologic timescale an age or stage of the late Miocene that spans the time between 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma and 7.246 ± 0.005 Ma . It follows the Serravallian and is followed by the Messinian....
Age of the Late Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
Epoch of Southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It has a very long zygomatic process
Zygomatic process
Zygomatic process is a protrusion from the rest of the skull, like the bumper of a car. Most of it belongs to the zygomatic bone, and could therefore be called the zygomatic process of the zygomatic bone...
, probably for housing the spermaceti
Spermaceti
Spermaceti is a wax present in the head cavities of the sperm whale . Originally mistaken for the whales' sperm , spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head and connected to its nasal passage...
organ. Z. varolai has a large body size with large teeth present in both jaws making it capable of feeding on large prey.
Related species
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