Zygorhiza

Taxobox
name = "Zygorhiza"
fossil_range = Late Eocene

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Cetacea
subordo = Archaeoceti
familia = Basilosauridae
genus = "Zygorhiza"
genus_authority = True, 1908
species = "Z. kochii"
binomial_authority = Kellogg, 1936
binomial = "Zygorhiza kochii"

"Zygorhiza kochii" ("Koch's Yoke-Root") is an extinct species of cetacean. "Zygorhiza" was related to the famous "Basilosaurus", but was smaller and less elongated. It was about 6 m (20 ft) long. "Zygorhiza" had flippers which could, unlike in modern cetaceans, be moved at the elbow. Its hind limbs were rudimentary. "Zygorhiza's" one-metre (3-foot) skull had fearsome jaws with deadly teeth. Unlike modern cetaceans, "Zygorhiza" had a neck consisting of seven vertebrae.

tate Symbol

Zygorhiza kochii is the state fossil of Mississippi. The mounted specimen in the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson is commonly referred to as "Ziggy".

ee also

* "Dorudon"
* "Basilosaurus"