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Belgrade Formation
The Belgrade Formation is a limestone geologic formation in North Carolina characterized by limestone coquina mixed with sand, and thinly laminated clays. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period. Description The Belgrade Formation is composed of two subunits: the Pollocksville member and the Haywood Landing member. The Pollocksville member is composed of unconsolidated oyster shells and sand. It was deposited in the Oligocene and early Miocene. The Haywood Landing member is composed of shelly sands and thinly laminated clays. The Belgrade Formation was originally considered part of an Eocene formation called the Trent Marl before it was identified as being deposited in the Miocene and split off. Fossil content Mammals Reptiles Fish Invertebrates See also * List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in North Carolina This article contains a list of fossil-bearing stratigraphic units in the state of North Carolina, U.S. Sites See also * Pale ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geological Formation
A geological formation, or simply formation, is a body of rock having a consistent set of physical characteristics (lithology) that distinguishes it from adjacent bodies of rock, and which occupies a particular position in the layers of rock exposed in a geographical region (the stratigraphic column). It is the fundamental unit of lithostratigraphy, the study of strata or rock layers. A formation must be large enough that it can be mapped at the surface or traced in the subsurface. Formations are otherwise not defined by the thickness (geology), thickness of their rock strata, which can vary widely. They are usually, but not universally, tabular in form. They may consist of a single lithology (rock type), or of alternating beds of two or more lithologies, or even a heterogeneous mixture of lithologies, so long as this distinguishes them from adjacent bodies of rock. The concept of a geologic formation goes back to the beginnings of modern scientific geology. The term was used by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cetacean
Cetacea (; , ) is an infraorder of aquatic mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Key characteristics are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size and exclusively carnivorous diet. They propel themselves through the water with powerful up-and-down movement of their tail which ends in a paddle-like fluke, using their flipper-shaped forelimbs to maneuver. While the majority of cetaceans live in marine environments, a small number exclusively reside in brackish water or fresh water. Having a cosmopolitan distribution, they can be found in some rivers and all of Earth's oceans, and many species inhabit vast ranges where they migrate with the changing of the seasons. Cetaceans are famous for their high intelligence and complex social behaviour as well as for the enormous size of some of the group's members, such as the blue whale which reaches a maximum confirmed length of 29.9 meters (98 feet) and a weight of 173 tonnes (190 short tons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eomysticetus
''Eomysticetus'' is an extinct genus of baleen whale from the late Oligocene (Chattian) Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina. (148Mb) Taxonomy ''Eomysticetus'' is a member of the family Eomysticetidae, which also includes '' Micromysticetus'', '' Tohoraata'', '' Tokarahia'', and '' Yamatocetus''. There are two species of ''Eomysticetus'', ''E. whitmorei'' and ''E. carolinensis'', both from the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina. Physical characteristics The skull was around in length. Like more evolved baleen whales, its jaws had baleen instead of teeth, meaning that it could filter plankton with its baleen plates. However, primitive baleen whales may have retained enamel coated teeth embedded in the gums, similar to modern sperm whales. Baleen whales, as a group, may be sensitive to low-frequency sounds. Unlike modern baleen whales, ''Eomysticetus'' had a blowhole that was positioned ahead of the eyes, and the characteristics of its vertebrae and flipper bon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tympanic Bulla
The tympanic part of the temporal bone is a curved plate of bone lying below the squamous part of the temporal bone, in front of the mastoid process, and surrounding the external part of the ear canal. It originates as a separate bone (tympanic bone), which in some mammals stays separate through life. Evolutionarily, a portion of it is derived from the angular bone of the reptilian lower jaw. Surfaces Its postero-superior surface is concave, and forms the anterior wall, the floor, and part of the posterior wall of the bony ear canal. Medially, it presents a narrow furrow, the ''tympanic sulcus'', for the attachment of the tympanic membrane. Its antero-inferior surface is quadrilateral and slightly concave; it constitutes the posterior boundary of the mandibular fossa, and is in contact with the retromandibular part of the parotid gland. Borders Its lateral border is free and rough, and gives attachment to the cartilaginous part of the ear canal. Internally, the tympanic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eomysticetidae
Eomysticetidae is a family of extinct mysticetes belonging to Chaeomysticeti (toothless mysticetes). It is one of two families in the basal chaeomysticete clade Eomysticetoidea (the other being Cetotheriopsidae). Description Eomysticetids are united by the following combination of primitive and derived characters relative to more advanced chaeomysticetes (Balaenomorpha): zygomatic process without a supramastoid crest; reduction of the superior process of the periotic into a low ridge with anterior and posterior apices in medial or lateral view; blowholes situated ahead of the eyes; an elongated intertemporal region with long parietal and frontal exposures on the cranial vertex; elongated nasals; large coronoid processes of the mandibles; flat rostrum; laterally bowed mandibles; absence of functional teeth; and large mandibular foramina. Taxonomy There are seven genera of Eomysticetidae: ''Eomysticetus'', ''Matapanui'', ''Micromysticetus'', ''Tohoraata'', ''Tokarahia'', ''Wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Echovenator
''Echovenator'' ("echolocation hunter") is a genus of primitive odontocete from late Oligocene (Chattian) marine deposits in South Carolina belonging to Xenorophidae. Description and paleobiology ''Echovenator'' is distinguishable from other xenorophids in having a paranaris fossa Fossa may refer to: Animals * Fossa (animal), the common name of a carnivoran mammal of genus ''Cryptoprocta'' endemic to Madagascar * ''Fossa'', the Latin genus name of the Malagasy civet, a related but smaller mammal endemic to Madagascar Pla ... and fused fronto-nasal and maxillo-premaxillary sutures. The earbone structure shows that this odontocete was clearly capable of echolocation.. References Oligocene cetaceans Fossil taxa described in 2016 {{paleo-whale-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cotylocara
''Cotylocara'' is a genus of primitive odontocete from late Oligocene (Chattian) marine deposits of the Chandler Bridge Formation of South Carolina belonging to Xenorophidae Xenorophidae is an extinct family of odontocetes currently known from the Oligocene of the southeastern US. Known genera of xenorophids include ''Albertocetus'', '' Archaeodelphis'', '' Xenorophus'', '' Cotylocara'', ''Echovenator'', and ''Inerm .... Paleobiology ''Cotylocara'' was capable of echolocation like modern dolphins, as evidenced by its dense, thick and downturned rostrum, air sac fossae, cranial asymmetry, and exceptionally broad maxillae.Jonathan H. Geisler, Matthew W. Colbert, James L. Carew., 2014: ''A new fossil species supports an early origin for toothed whale echolocation.'' ''Nature''. doi:10.1038/nature13086 References Oligocene cetaceans Fossil taxa described in 2014 {{paleo-whale-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ankylorhiza Tiedemani Life Reconstruction By PaleoGeek
''Ankylorhiza'' (meaning "fused roots"; in reference to the type of dentition seen in early toothed whales) is an extinct genus of toothed whale that lived in what is now the United States during the Oligocene epoch, between 29 and 23.5 million years ago. The type and only known species is ''A. tiedemani'', though two fossil skeletons may represent an additional, second species within the genus. ''Ankylorhiza'' was about long, with a long, robust skull bearing conical teeth that were angled forwards at the tip of the snout. ''Ankylorhiza'' is the largest known Oligocene toothed whale and is one of the most completely known early members of this group, with characteristics intermediate between basal and derived cetaceans. The taxon would have had powerful jaw musculature and probably fed on large prey by seizing it and puncturing it with its robust teeth. The animal likely occupied a fast-swimming predator niche similar to that of living orcas. Discovery and naming The holo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Odontocete
The toothed whales (also called odontocetes, systematic name Odontoceti) are a parvorder of cetaceans that includes dolphins, porpoises, and all other whales possessing teeth, such as the beaked whales and sperm whales. Seventy-three species of toothed whales are described. They are one of two living groups of cetaceans, the other being the baleen whales (Mysticeti), which have baleen instead of teeth. The two groups are thought to have diverged around 34 million years ago (mya). Toothed whales range in size from the and vaquita to the and sperm whale. Several species of odontocetes exhibit sexual dimorphism, in that there are size or other morphological differences between females and males. They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. Some can travel at up to 20 knots. Odontocetes have conical teeth designed for catching fish or squid. They have well-developed hearing, that is well adapted for both air and water, so much so that some can sur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Postcanine
Cheek teeth or post-canines comprise the molar and premolar teeth in mammals. Cheek teeth are multicuspidate (having many folds or tubercles). Mammals have multicuspidate molars (three in placentals, four in marsupials, in each jaw quadrant) and premolars situated between canines and molars whose shape and number varies considerably among particular groups. For example, many modern Carnivora possess carnassials, or secodont teeth. This scissor-like pairing of the last upper premolar and first lower molar is adapted for shearing meat. In contrast, the cheek teeth of deer and cattle are selenodont. Viewed from the side, these teeth have a series of triangular cusps or ridges, enabling the ruminants' sideways jaw motions to break down tough vegetable matter. Cheek teeth are sometimes separated from the incisors by a gap called a diastema. Cheek teeth in reptiles are much simpler as compared to mammals. Roles and significance Apart from helping grind the food to properly reduce the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ankylorhiza
''Ankylorhiza'' (meaning "fused roots"; in reference to the type of dentition seen in early toothed whales) is an extinct genus of toothed whale that lived in what is now the United States during the Oligocene epoch, between 29 and 23.5 million years ago. The type and only known species is ''A. tiedemani'', though two fossil skeletons may represent an additional, second species within the genus. ''Ankylorhiza'' was about long, with a long, robust skull bearing conical teeth that were angled forwards at the tip of the snout. ''Ankylorhiza'' is the largest known Oligocene toothed whale and is one of the most completely known early members of this group, with characteristics intermediate between basal and derived cetaceans. The taxon would have had powerful jaw musculature and probably fed on large prey by seizing it and puncturing it with its robust teeth. The animal likely occupied a fast-swimming predator niche similar to that of living orcas. Discovery and naming The holot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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