Dilophodelphis is an extinct genus of river dolphin from Early Miocene (Burdigalian) marine deposits in Oregon. The type species, Dilophodelphis fordycei, was named in 2017.[1]

Dilophodelphis
Temporal range: Early Miocene
3D model of a Dilophodelphis fordycei skull
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Genus: Dilophodelphis
Boersma, McMurry, and Pyenson, 2017
Species:
D. fordycei
Binomial name
Dilophodelphis fordycei
Boersma, McMurry, and Pyenson, 2017

Biology and description

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Dilophodelphis is distinguished from other extinct relatives of the South Asian river dolphin in having enlarged supraorbital crests resembling a twin mountain arrangement, quite similar to the crests of the theropod dinosaur Dilophosaurus.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b A. T. Boersma, M. R. McCurry, and N. D. Pyenson. 2017. A new fossil dolphin Dilophodelphis fordycei provides insight into the evolution of supraorbital crests in Platanistoidea (Mammalia, Cetacea). Royal Society Open Science