Odobenocetops peruvianus is an extinct species of odontocete cetacean that belonged to the odobenidae family. This cetacean, also known as the Peruvian bottlenose dolphin, lived in the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean during the Miocene period, approximately 16 to 18 million years ago.
It has been estimated that the body length ranges between 3 and 4 meters. It is possible that Odobenocetops reached a mass similar to that of modern narwhals, between 800 and 1,000 kg.
This cetacean is characterized by having a distinctive skull with a long, thin face, similar to the nose of a bottle, hence its common name. Odobenocetops peruvianus also had teeth in the lower jaw, which differentiates it from modern odobenids, such as walruses, which have tusks in the upper jaw. The presence of these teeth suggests that it fed on smaller prey compared to modern walruses.
The fossil distribution of Odobenocetops peruvianus has been primarily associated with the coastal region of Peru, and its discovery has provided valuable information on cetacean diversity in the geological past.
Approximate measurements of Odobenocetops:
It has been estimated that the body length ranges between 3 and 4 meters. It is possible that Odobenocetops reached a mass similar to that of modern narwhals, between 800 and 1,000 kg.
This cetacean is characterized by having a distinctive skull with a long, thin face, similar to the nose of a bottle, hence its common name. Odobenocetops peruvianus also had teeth in the lower jaw, which differentiates it from modern odobenids, such as walruses, which have tusks in the upper jaw. The presence of these teeth suggests that it fed on smaller prey compared to modern walruses.
The fossil distribution of Odobenocetops peruvianus has been primarily associated with the coastal region of Peru, and its discovery has provided valuable information on cetacean diversity in the geological past.
Approximate measurements of Odobenocetops:
- Scale 1:35 Complete
- Length 99mm
- Height 52mm
- Snout-tail length 113 mm
- Scale 1:20 Complete
- Length 174mm
- Height 91mm
- Snout-tail length 198mm
