Squalodelphinidae is a family of primitive
platanistoid river dolphins found in marine deposits in the eastern Pacific, western Atlantic, and Europe.
Description
Distinguishing features of Squalodelphinidae include a moderately elongated and tapered rostrum, posterior cheek teeth being single-rooted but retaining accessory denticles, and marked skull asymmetry. Members of the family can be differentiated from the
South Asian river dolphin
South Asian river dolphins are toothed whales in the genus ''Platanista'', which inhabit fresh water habitats in the northern Indian subcontinent. They were historically considered to be one species (''P. gangetica'') with the Ganges river dol ...
by their shorter rostrum.
[O. Lambert, G. Bianucci, and M. Urbina. 2014. Huaridelphis raimondii, a new early Miocene Squalodelphinidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti) from the Chilcatay Formation, Peru. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34(5):987-1004]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q21291935
Prehistoric cetaceans
River dolphins
Prehistoric mammal families