Jorge Velez-Juarbe Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe
” Olympicetus thalassodon and its close family members show a combination of features that genuinely sets them apart from any other group of toothed whales. Some of these characteristics, like the multi-cusped teeth, symmetric skulls, and forward position of the nostrils makes them look more like an intermediate in between archaic whales and the dolphins we are more knowledgeable about,” states Dr. Velez-Juarbe, Associate Curator of Marine Mammals at NHMLAC.
Olympicetus thalassodon was not alone, the remains of 2 other carefully related odontocetes were described in the very same paper. The fossils were all gathered from a geologic system called the Pysht Formation, exposed along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State and dated to between 26.5– 30.5 million years.
Olympicetus Phylogeny. Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe
The study even more revealed that Olympicetus and its close kin belonged to a family called Simocetidae, a group so far known only from the North Pacific and among the earliest diverging groups of toothed whales. Simocetids formed part of an unusual fauna represented by fossils found in the Pysht Formation and which consisted of plotopterids (an extinct group of flightless, penguin-like birds), the bizarre desmostylians, early relatives of walruses and seals, and toothed baleen whales.
Simocetids. Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe.
Distinctions in body size, teeth and other feeding-related structures suggest that simocetids showed different forms of victim acquisition and most likely prey choices. “The teeth of Olympicetus are really strange, they are what we refer to as heterodont, implying that they reveal differences along the toothrow,” notes Dr. Velez-Juarbe, “this sticks out against the teeth of more advanced odontocetes whose teeth are easier and tend to look almost the same.”
Other aspects of the biology of these early toothed whales stay to be clarified, such as whether they could echolocate like their living loved ones, or not. Some elements of their skull can be related to the existence of echolocating-related structures, such as a melon. An earlier study had suggested that neonatal people might not hear ultrasonic noises, so the next step would be to examine the earbones of subadult and adult people to test whether this altered as they grew older.
Referral: “New heterodont odontocetes from the Oligocene Pysht Formation in Washington State, U.S.A., and a reevaluation of Simocetidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)” by Jorge Velez-Juarbe, 23 June 2023, PeerJ Life and Environment.DOI: 10.7717/ peerj.15576.
Life reconstruction of Olympicetus thalassodon pursuing a school of fishes together with plotopterid birds (background) someplace in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Credit: Art by Cullen Townsend
Paleontologists have discovered a new species of toothed whale, Olympicetus thalassodon, which lived 28 million years earlier and uses insights into the development of modern-day dolphins. This species, together with two other comparable odontocetes discovered in the very same area, belong to the Simocetidae family, which forms part of the early diverging groups of toothed whales. The study, however, leaves questions about their echolocation capabilities.
Have you ever wondered what the earliest forefathers of todays dolphins looked like? Look no even more, meet Olympicetus thalassodon, a new types of early odontocete, or toothed whale, that swam along the North Pacific shoreline around 28 million years earlier. This brand-new types is among several that are assisting us understand the early history and diversification of contemporary dolphins, cetaceans, and other toothed whales.
The new types is explained in a new research study published today (June 23) in the open gain access to journal PeerJ Life and Environment by Puerto Rican paleontologist Jorge Velez-Juarbe of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Paleontologists have found a new types of toothed whale, Olympicetus thalassodon, which lived 28 million years ago and uses insights into the advancement of modern dolphins. This types, along with 2 other comparable odontocetes discovered in the very same location, belong to the Simocetidae household, which forms part of the early diverging groups of toothed whales. Look no further, meet Olympicetus thalassodon, a new types of early odontocete, or toothed whale, that swam along the North Pacific coastline around 28 million years back. This brand-new types is one of numerous that are helping us comprehend the early history and diversity of contemporary dolphins, cetaceans, and other toothed whales.
Other elements of the biology of these early toothed whales remain to be illuminated, such as whether they might echolocate like their living family members, or not.
