| Physeterula Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Physeteridae |
| Subfamily: | Physeterinae |
| Genus: | †Physeterula Van Beneden, 1877 |
| Type species | |
| †Physeterula dubusi Van Beneden, 1877 | |
| Other species[2] | |
|
†P. neolassicus Veatch and Stephenson, 1911[3] | |
Physeterula was a prehistoric close relative of the sperm whale that lived in Europe and the United States [2] during the Late Miocene.[1]
This large species is the most stemward physeterid, retaining functional upper teeth lacking enamel.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Lambert, Olivier (January 2008). "Sperm whales from the Miocene of the North Sea: A re-appraisal". Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Sciences de la Terre. 78: 277–316.
- 1 2 Physeterula in the Paleobiology Database
- ↑ Physeterula neolassicus in the Paleobiology Database