Mammalodon colliveri

Taxobox
name = "Mammalodon"
fossil_range = Oligocene
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Cetacea
subordo = Mysticeti
familia = Mammalodontidae
familia_authority = Mitchell, 1989
genus = "Mammalodon"
species = "M. colliveri"
binomial = "Mammalodon colliveri"
binomial_authority = Pritchard, 1939

"Mammalodon colliveri" is a species of extinct whale, that was discovered in 1932. It is an early baleen whale which still had teeth as opposed to baleen plates.

Modern whales have numerous plates with frayed edges called whalebones (or baleen). The whale ingests a mouthful of water then filters the nourishment through the whalebones.

Baleen Whale Ancestor

The Mammalodon, with a length of 2.5m, was smaller and more primitive than modern whales. It had a short face, a delicate premaxilla with only one or two incisors and the lateral rim of the internal auditory meatus was lengthened towards the brain case which formed a longitudinal ridge. Unlike modern whales, the Mammalodon was endowed with well developed teeth.

Filter Feeding

Experts are not sure if Mammalodon filtered small aquatic creatures using whalebones.The teeth of this mammal were widely spaced, therefore, it is probable that Mammalodon's mouth contained some type of baleen. The dental morphology of this species suggest that it had developed a method of filter feeding unlike that of other whales. [http://www.archaeocete.org/EAT%202005%20Abstracts.pdf Evolution of Aquatic Tetrapods ] ]

References