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Miophocaena

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Miophocaena
Temporal range: Late Miocene 6.4–5.5 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Miophocaena
Murakami, Shimada, Hikida, and Hirano, 2012
Species:
M. nishinoi
Binomial name
Miophocaena nishinoi
Murakami, Shimada, Hikida, and Hirano, 2012

Miophocaena nishinoi is an extinct species of porpoise from the Late Miocene Koetoi Formation of Japan, dating to around 6.4–5.5 million years ago (mya), represented by a partial skull. the genus name derives from Ancient Greek mio for the Miocene, and phocaena for "porpoise"; the species name honors the discoverer, Takanobu Nishino. Miophocaena resides in a clade with Archaeophocaena discovered in the same area, and, along with Pterophocaena, represents an intermediate phase between porpoises and dolphins.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Murakami, M.; Shimada, C.; Hikida, Y.; Hirano, H. (2012). "Two new extinct basal phocoenids (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Delphinoidea), from the upper Miocene Koetoi Formation of Japan and their phylogenetic significance". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32 (5): 1172–1185. Bibcode:2012JVPal..32.1172M. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.694337. S2CID 84268028.