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Extreme cranial asymmetry in extinct benthic feeding sperm whales.
Communications Biology · · Journal Article · Open access
Benites-Palomino, Sánchez-Villagra + more
Abstract ↗AI summary
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Scaphokogia huachafo sp. nov. from the Late Miocene Pisco Formation shows the most extreme facial asymmetry documented among cetaceans, potentially among mammals.
- Why it matters: Fossils can reveal cranial evolutionary novelties that are not visible in living species, including the extreme asymmetries linked to toothed whale sound-emitting structures.
- What they did: The study used geometric morphometrics and symmetry analyses focused on S. huachafo, alongside reconstructed atlanto-occipital joint morphology in closely related congeners.
- The result: The findings indicate a benthic-foraging–consistent skull design with enhanced ventral neck flexibility, expanding known cetacean skull diversity and supporting Late Miocene benthic niche occupation.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
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