Cotylocara

Cotylocara is a genus of primitive odontocete from late Oligocene (Chattian) marine deposits of the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina belonging to Xenorophidae.

Cotylocara
Temporal range: Late Oligocene, 28.4–23.0 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Xenorophidae
Genus: Cotylocara
Geisler et al., 2014
Type species
Cotylocara macei
Geisler et al., 2014 (type)

Paleobiology

Cotylocara was capable of echolocation like modern dolphins, as evidenced by its dense, thick and downturned rostrum, air sac fossae, cranial asymmetry, and exceptionally broad maxillae.[1]

References

  1. Jonathan H. Geisler, Matthew W. Colbert, James L. Carew., 2014. A new fossil species supports an early origin for toothed whale echolocation. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/nature13086


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