How big was Zygophyseter?
Approximately 6.5-7 meters
Size: Approximately 6.5-7 meters in length (or 21-23 feet). Anatomy: Zygophyseter would have been roughly similar to the sperm whale (Physeter) and the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia).
Why are sperm whales called sperm whales?
They are named after the waxy substance—spermaceti—found in their heads. The spermaceti is an oil sac that helps the whales focus sound. Spermaceti was used in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles.
When did Acrophyseter live?
Acrophyseter is a genus of extinct sperm whales that lived in the Late Miocene off the coast of Peru comprising two species: A. deinodon and A. robustus.
What is the bite force of a sperm whale?
Our FEA simulations indicate that Z. varolai exerted an anterior bite force of more than 4000 N and a posterior bite force of more than 10000 N. These values are similar to those estimated for other marine predators known for their powerful bite. This suggests that Z.
How old is the physeter?
Some extremely poorly known fossil species have also been assigned to the same genus including Physeter antiquus (5.3 – 2.6 mya) from the Pliocene of France, and Physeter vetus (2.6 mya – 12 ka) from the Quaternary of Georgia.
Is Leviathan a whale?
Leviathan is technically classified as a “physeteroid,” a member of a family of toothed whales that stretches back about 20 million years in the evolutionary record.
How was the Leviathan extinct?
Its extinction was probably caused by a cooling event at the end of the Miocene period causing a reduction in food populations. The geological formation where the whale has been found has also preserved a large assemblage of marine life, such as sharks and marine mammals.
Are Livyatan still alive?
Livyatan is an extinct genus of macroraptorial sperm whale containing one known species: L. melvillei. The genus name was inspired by the biblical sea monster Leviathan, and the species name by Herman Melville, the author of the famous novel Moby Dick about a white bull sperm whale.
Where was the genus Zygophyseter found?
The genus Zygophyseter is known in the fossil records on the basis of an almost complete skeleton of Zygophyseter varolai, discovered in Southern Italy in the marine lime mudstone of the Pietra Leccese Formation and described in 2006 by G. Bianucci and W. Landini.
What is the shape of the zygomatic bone?
Zygomatic bone (Os zygomaticum) The zygomatic bone (zygoma) is an irregularly shaped bone of the skull. It is often referred to as the cheekbone, and it comprises the prominence just below the lateral side of the orbit. The zygomatic bone is nearly quadrangular in shape and it features three surfaces, five borders and two processes.
What is the zygomatic process of the skull?
Each process of the zygomatic bone forms important structures of the skull. The orbital surface of the frontal process of the zygomatic bone forms the anterior lateral orbital wall, with usually a small paired foramen, the zygomaticofacial foramen opening on its lateral surface.
What is the difference between Zygophyseter and Physeter?
The genus name Zygophyseter emphasizes the elongation of the zygomatic process of the only known species Zygophyseter varolai, while the term Physeter refers to the type genus of the family Physeteridae. The Latin species name honors the discoverer Angelo Varola.