Metopocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale belonging to the family Cetotheriidae. The type species is Metopocetus durinasus.
Metopocetus Temporal range: Miocene,
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Infraorder: | Cetacea |
Family: | Cetotheriidae |
Subfamily: | †Herpetocetinae |
Genus: | †Metopocetus Cope, 1896 |
Species | |
†M. durinasus Cope, 1896 (type) |
Metopocetus is diagnosable by lateral occipital crests continuous with temporal crests that diverge forward, as well as elongate frontals, and short nasal bones that project posterior to frontals.[1]
Metopocetus durinasus is known only from the middle Miocene (Langhian) Calvert Beach Member of the Calvert Formation of Westmoreland County, Virginia. Its type specimen is USNM 8518.[2] On the other hand, Metopocetus hunteri is based on a partial cranium from the Breda Formation of the Netherlands.[3]