Maiabalaena

Maiabalaena
Temporal range: Early Oligocene,
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Genus: †
Peredo et al., 2018
Species:
†M. nesbittae
Binomial name
†Maiabalaena nesbittae
Peredo et al., 2018

Maiabalaena is an extinct genus of baleen whale from the Oligocene of Oregon 33 million years ago consisting of one species: M. nesbittae. It lacks any form of dentition, indicating that baleen whales first evolved tooth loss before evolving baleen. It was likely an efficient suction feeder.[1] The species name is in honor of Washington state's leading paleontologist, Elizabeth Nesbitt.

References

  1. ^ Peredo, C. M.; Pyenson, N. D.; Marshall, C. D.; Uhe, M. D. (2018). "Tooth Loss Precedes the Origin of Baleen in Whales". Current Biology. 28 (24): 3992–4000.e2. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.10.047. PMID 30503622.
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