Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: ParaHoxozoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Olfactores
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Metopophora
Cladus: Haptodontiformes
Cladus: Sphenacomorpha
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Eutheriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Epicynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliamorpha
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Cladus: Theriimorpha
Cladus: Theriiformes
Cladus: Trechnotheria
Cladus: Cladotheria
Cladus: Prototribosphenida
Cladus: Zatheria
Cladus: Tribosphenida
Cladus: Boreosphenida
Subclassis: Theria
Cladus: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Magnordo: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Cladus: Scrotifera
Grandordo: Ferungulata
Mirordo: Euungulata
Ordo: Artiodactyla
Cladus: Artiofabula
Cladus: Cetruminantia
Cladus: Cetancodontamorpha
Subordo: Whippomorpha
Cladus: Cetaceamorpha
Infraordo: Cetacea
Cladus: Neoceti
Parvordo: Odontoceti
Infraordo: Platanistida
Superfamilia: Platanistoidea
Familia: †Waipatiidae
Genus: †Otekaikea
Species: O. marplesi
Name
Otekaikea Tanaka & Fordyce, 2014
Original status: Valid genus
Type species: Prosqualodon marplesi Dickson, 1964
Fixation: Original designation [and monotypy]
ZooBank: 702DACF7-1BB7-4E4E-A851-7EAE20EF5F25
References
Tanaka, Y.; Fordyce, R.E. 2014: Fossil dolphin Otekaikea marplesi (latest Oligocene, New Zealand) expands the structural-taxonomic diversity of Oligocene cetaceans. PLoS ONE 9(9): e107972. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107972 Reference page.
Otekaikea is an extinct genus of toothed whale closely related to Waipatia. It is known from the late Oligocene (Chattian) of New Zealand.
Description
Reconstructed skull of O. marplesi
Otekaikea is a medium-sized odontocete similar to Waipatia in the following characters: maxilla and occipital partly separated by parietal; flat dorsal surface of periotic; long posterior process of the periotic; and poorly developed ventromedial keel of the bulla. Differences from other archaic odontocetes include: broad dished face; elevated nodular subrhomboidal nasals and elevated frontals; smooth-surfaced premaxillary sac fossae without prominent premaxillary sulci developed posteriorly; premaxillae strongly bifurcated posteriorly, associated with bilateral posterior accessory foramina and elevated crests on the maxillae; periotic with long slender parallel-sided posterior process, and sharp apex of anterior process.[1]
Taxonomy
Otekaikea was originally described as a species of Prosqualodon, P. marplesi.[2] In 1994, it was referred to the genus Notocetus in the original description of Waipatia.[3] Preparation of the holotype, however, established its affinities with Waipatia, and Prosqualodon marplesi was given its own genus, Otekaikea, after the Otekaike Limestone in New Zealand where it was first discovered.[1]
A second species, Otekaikea huata, differs from the type species in having single-rooted posterior cheek teeth and a reduced ascending process of the premaxilla.[4]
References
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Tanaka Y, Fordyce RE (2014) Fossil Dolphin Otekaikea marplesi (Latest Oligocene, New Zealand) Expands the Morphological and Taxonomic Diversity of Oligocene Cetaceans. PLoS ONE 9(9): e107972. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0107972
Dickson MR (1964) The skull and other remains of Prosqualodon marplesi, a new species of fossil whale. N Z J Geol Geophys 7: 626–635. doi: 10.1080/00288306.1964.10422110
Fordyce RE (1994) Waipatia maerewhenua, new genus and new species (Waipatiidae, new family), an archaic Late Oligocene dolphin (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Platanistoidea) from New Zealand. Proc San Diego Soc Nat Hist 29: 147–176.
Tanaka, Yoshihiro and Fordyce, R. Ewan 2015. A new Oligo-Miocene dolphin from New Zealand: Otekaikea huata expands diversity of the early Platanistoidea. Palaeontologia Electronica 18.2.23A: 1-71 palaeo-electronica.org/content/2015/1161-fossil-platanistoid-dolphin
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