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