Septidelphis

Septidelphis is an extinct genus of oceanic dolphins belonging to the family (Delphinidae). The type species is Septidelphis morii.

Septidelphis Temporal range: Pliocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Fossil skull of Septidelphis morii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	Delphinidae
Genus:	†Septidelphis Bianucci, 2013
Species:	†S. morii
Binomial name
†Septidelphis morii Bianucci, 2013

Fossil records

This genus is known in the fossil records from the late Zanclean–early Piacenzian (Pliocene) (age range: from 3.81 to 3.19 million years ago). Fossils are found in the marine strata of Piedmont (northern Italy).^[1][2]

Fossil skeleton of Septidelphis morii

Description

This genus is characterized by a condylobasal length reaching about 550 millimetres (22 in), by a long and narrow rostrum and by a wide premaxillae at the middle of rostrum. It shows an extreme posterior widening of the dorsal opening of the mesorostral canal.^[2][3][4]