Zygophyseter

Taxobox
name = "Zygophyseter"
fossil_range = Late Miocene (Tortonian)

---

image_width = 320px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Cetacea
subordo = Odontoceti
familia = Physeteridae
genus = "Zygophyseter"
species = "Z. varolai"

"Zygophyseter varolai" ("Varola's cheekbone bellows") is an extinct, primitive sperm whale. The common name of "killer sperm whale" refers both to its relation to modern day sperm whales, and to its similarity in size to and its "probable similar feeding adaptation to the extant delphinid killer whale ("Orcinus orca")".cite journal
author = Bianucci, Giovanni, & Landini, Walter.
year = 2006
title = Killer sperm whale: a new basal physeteroid (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Late Miocene of Italy
journal = Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
volume = 148
pages = 103-131]

Its fossil, an almost complete skeleton, dates from the Tortonian Age of the Late Miocene Epoch of Southern Italy. It has a very long zygomatic process, probably for housing the spermaceti organ. "Z. varolai" has a large body size with large teeth present in both jaws making it capable of feeding on large prey.

References

Sources

* [http://nsdl.org/resource/2200/20071022162342703T National Science Digital Library]
* [http://www.esconi.org/Karen_Komments_PDF/KK10-Nov-2006.pdf Karen's Komments]
* [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/zoj/2006/00000148/00000001/art00002?token=0038138190f7b76504c48766c255323766c7c40444d7c6a333f25765 IngentaConnect]