Supayacetus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Supayacetus |
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|---|---|
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| Ocucajea (top), S. muizoni (below) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Supayacetus
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| Species: |
muizoni
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Supayacetus is an extinct genus of basilosaurid cetacean from Middle Eocene (Bartonian stage) deposits of southern Peru.
Etymology
The genus is named after Supay, the Incan god of death, and ketos Greek for whale.
Description
Supayacetus is known from the holotype MUSM 1465, a partial skeleton. As Ocucajea, it was collected in the Archaeocete Valley site, from the Paracas Formation of the Pisco Basin about 40.4 to 37.2 million years ago. It was named by and the type species S. muizoni honours palaeontologist Christian de Muizon who has contributed considerably to Peruvian palaeontology.
Distinguishing characters of Supayacetus include: a T-shaped manubrium with a rod-shaped process; cheek teeth with accessory denticles; a broad scapula with a large infraspinous fossa; humerus with large and hemispherical head, well-defined proximal tuberosities, a long deltopectoral crest, and a broad shaft. Compared to other basilosaurids, Supayacetus is larger than Protocetus but its skull and vertebrae are smaller than in other basilosaurids.
See also
In Spanish: Supayacetus para niños
