Eurhinodelphis

Eurhinodelphis ("well-nosed dolphin") is an extinct genus of Miocene cetacean. Its fossils have been found in Belgium, France, and Maryland.

Eurhinodelphis Temporal range: Middle Miocene–Late Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Skeleton of E. longirostris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Suborder:	Whippomorpha
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	†Eurhinodelphinidae
Genus:	†Eurhinodelphis Du Bus, 1867
Species
E. cocheuteuxi Du Bus, 1867(type) E. longirostris Du Bus, 1872

Species

Currently-valid species are:^[1]

• E. cocheuteuxi
• E. longirostris

Former species include:

• E. bossi, now a species of Xiphiacetus.

Description

Reconstructions of Macrodelphinus and E. longirostris

Eurhinodelphis was around 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length. In most respects, it would have looked like a modern dolphin or porpoise, but its upper jaw was elongated into a sharp tip similar to that of a swordfish. Most likely, Eurhinodelphis used it in a similar manner to swordfish, hitting or stabbing prey. It also had long, sharp teeth.^[2]

Compared with earlier fossil species, Eurhinodelphis had complex ears, suggesting that it already hunted by echolocation like modern whales. Its brain was also asymmetrical, a trait found in modern dolphins, and possibly associated with the complexities of navigating its environment.^[2]

History

Eurhinodelphis was first described by B. Du Bus in a paper read before the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium on 17 December 1867. O. Abel studied and illustrated the European species in a series of articles published in 1901, 1902 and 1905; subsequently, fossil skulls found in the Calvert Formation in Maryland and Virginia could be attributed to this genus.