Matapanui

Matapanui is a genus of eomysticetid baleen whale from the Late Oligocene (early Chattian) Kokoamu Greensand of New Zealand.

Matapanui
Temporal range: Late Oligocene, 28.1–27.3 Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: †Eomysticetidae
Genus: †Matapanui
Boessenecker and Fordyce, 2016
Species
  • M. waihao (Boessenecker and Fordyce, 2016) (type)
Synonyms

Matapa Boessenecker and Fordyce, 2016
(preoccupied)

Taxonomy

Matapanui was originally named Matapa, but that name was already in use for a genus of butterfly, necessitating the name change.[1][2]

Paleobiology

Based on the enlarged temporal fossae and enlarged mandibular canal, Matapanui was probably incapable of lunge-feeding, although it remains unclear whether it could skim-feed or filter prey in the benthic zone. Waharoa shared its habitat with the odontocetes Awamokoa, Austrosqualodon, Otekaikea, and Waipatia, and the mysticetes Horopeta, Mauicetus, Tohoraata, Tokarahia, Waharoa, and Whakakai.

References
  1. Robert W. Boessenecker; R. Ewan Fordyce (2016). "A new eomysticetid from the Oligocene Kokoamu Greensand of New Zealand and a review of the Eomysticetidae (Mammalia, Cetacea)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. Online edition. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1191045.
  2. Robert W. Boessenecker; R. Ewan Fordyce (2016). "Matapanui, a replacement name for Matapa Boessenecker & Fordyce, 2016". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. Online edition. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1210070.
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