Protororqualus

Protororqualus
Temporal range: Pliocene, 3.6-2.588 Ma
Skeleton
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Balaenopteridae
Genus: Protororqualus
Bisconti 2007
Species

P. cuverii [originally Balaena] (type)
Fischer 1829

Protororqualus is a genus of extinct rorqual from the late Pliocene (Piacenzian, 3.6 to 2.6 Ma) of Mount Pulgnasco, Italy (45°06′N 9°42′E / 45.1°N 9.7°E / 45.1; 9.7: paleocoordinates 45°00′N 9°36′E / 45.0°N 9.6°E / 45.0; 9.6).[1]

The analysis made by Bisconti 2007 identified Protororqualus as a late representative of the rorquals which survived in the Mediterranean at least until the late Pliocene. This would indicate that the Mediterranean Basin played a vital role in preserving primitive rorquals, while more derived forms established themselves in other oceans.

  1. ^ "Monte Pulgnasco (Pliocene of Italy)". Paleobiology Database.