Microcetus is a genus of extinct odontocete from the late Oligocene (Chattian) of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Microcetus Temporal range:
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Infraorder: | Cetacea |
Family: | †Waipatiidae (?) |
Genus: | †Microcetus Kellogg, 1923 |
Species | |
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The type species of Microcetus, M. ambiguus, was originally described as a new species of Phoca on the basis of teeth from late Oligocene deposits in northwestern Germany.[1] The odontocete nature of the teeth was eventually recognized, and it was eventually assigned to Squalodon,[2][3] before being made the type species of a new genus, Microcetus.[4]