Eosqualodon is a genus of squalodontid odontocete from the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene (Chattian-Aquitanian) of northwestern Germany and northeastern Italy.

Eosqualodon
Temporal range: Chattian-Aquitanian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Family: Squalodontidae
Genus: Eosqualodon
Rothausen, 1968
Type species
Eosqualodon langewieschei
Rothausen, 1968
Other species
  • Eosqualodon latirostris (Capellini, 1903)

Taxonomy and description

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Two species are recognized, E. langewieschei and E. latirostris. The latter was originally described as a subspecies of Squalodon bariensis, S. b. latirostris, but is distinct from S. bariensis. Eosqualodon can be distinguished from Squalodon in having a broader rostral base, the caudal border of the external nares (blowhole) at the height of the caudal part of the orbits, and weakly developed intertemporal construction.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ K. Rothausen. 1968. Die systematische Stellung der europäischen Squalodontidae (Odontoceti, Mamm.). Paläontologische Zeitschrift 42(1-2):83-104.
  2. ^ G. Capellini. 1903. Avanzi di squalodonte nella Arenaria di Grumi dei Frati Presso Schio. Memorie della R. Accademia delle Scienze dell'Instituto di Bologna 10:1-11