April 7, 2021 Journal article Open Access

Olivier Lambert; Alice Belluzzo

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  <dc:creator>Olivier Lambert</dc:creator>
  <dc:creator>Alice Belluzzo</dc:creator>
  <dc:date>2021-04-07</dc:date>
  <dc:description>Abstract. With a remarkable exception for the Mediterranean, the worldwide
Pliocene record of true dolphins (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Delphinidae) remains
scarce, in stark contrast with the large number of extant species testifying
to the evolutionary success of this family. Based on a fragmentary skull
discovered in lower Pliocene deposits (Zanclean, 5 to 4.4 Ma) of the
Kattendijk Formation in the Antwerp harbour (Belgium, southern margin of the
North Sea basin), we describe here a new delphinid species, Pliodelphis doelensis gen. et sp.
nov. This small dolphin with cranial dimensions in the range of the
short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis can be distinguished from other extinct and
extant delphinids by a combination of cranial features including the maxilla
being significantly narrower than the premaxilla at a short distance
anterior to the antorbital notch in dorsal view, the maximum opening of the
mesorostral groove being located at the level of the antorbital notches, a
transversely wide and anteroposteriorly long dorsal exposure of the
presphenoid anterior to the bony nares, and all dorsal infraorbital foramina
being located posterior to the premaxillary foramina. P. doelensis constitutes the first
member of the family described from the early Pliocene of the North Sea
basin and, for the whole North Atlantic realm, only the third outside the
Mediterranean. This new record contributes thus to our understanding of the
poorly known Pliocene radiation(s) of true dolphins.</dc:description>
  <dc:identifier>https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/131113</dc:identifier>
  <dc:identifier>10.5194/fr-24-77-2021</dc:identifier>
  <dc:language>eng</dc:language>
  <dc:relation>url:https://www.openaccessrepository.it/communities/itmirror</dc:relation>
  <dc:rights>info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess</dc:rights>
  <dc:rights>https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</dc:rights>
  <dc:title>A new delphinid from the lower Pliocene of the North Sea and the early radiations of true dolphins</dc:title>
  <dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
  <dc:type>publication-article</dc:type>
</oai_dc:dc>