Messapicetus

Messapicetus is an extinct genus of beaked whale from the Late Miocene. It currently holds two species, M. longirostris from the Tortonian of Italy^[1] and M. gregarius from the Pisco Formation of Peru.^[2] However, a third unnamed species is represented in the St. Marys Formation of Maryland known from fragmentary material.^[3] M. gregarius is sexually dimorphic, males having tusks which are hypothesized to have been used in intraspecific combat for mates as in extant (living) beaked whales.^[4]

Messapicetus Temporal range: Tortonian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
M. gregarius and M. longirostris cranial diagrams
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	Ziphiidae
Genus:	†Messapicetus Bianucci & Landini, 1992

References

1. "Messapicetus longirostris a new genus and species of Ziphiidae (Cetacea) from the Late Miocene of "Pietra leccese" (Apulia; Italy)". arpi.unipi.it. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
2. Ramassamy, Benjamin; Lambert, Olivier; Collareta, Alberto; Urbina, Mario; Bianucci, Giovanni (2018-01-16). "Description of the skeleton of the fossil beaked whale <i>Messapicetus gregarius</i>: searching potential proxies for deep-diving abilities". Fossil Record. 21 (1): 11–32. doi:10.5194/fr-21-11-2018. hdl:11568/956055. ISSN 2193-0074.
3. Fuller, Anna J.; Godfrey, Stephen J. (2007-06-12). "A late Miocene ziphiid (Messapicetus sp.: Odontoceti: Cetacea) from the St. Marys Formation of Calvert Cliffs, Maryland". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (2): 535–540. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[535:ALMZMS]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 85606021.
4. "Messapicetus spp. | College of Osteopathic Medicine | NYIT". www.nyit.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-28.