Ankylorhiza
Ankylorhiza (meaning "fused roots"; in reference to the type of dentition seen in early toothed whales) is an extinct genus of dolphin that lived in what is now the United States during the Oligocene epoch, between 29 and 23.5 million years ago. The type and only known species is A. tiedemani, though two fossil skeletons may represent an additional, second species within the genus. "Ankylorhiza" was about long, with a long, robust skull bearing conical teeth that were angled forwards at the tip of the snout.

"Ankylorhiza" is the largest known Oligocene toothed whale and represents one of the most completely known early members of this group, with characteristics intermediate between basal and derived cetaceans. "Ankylorhiza" would have had powerful jaw musculature and probably fed on large prey by seizing it and puncturing it with its robust teeth. The animal likely occupied a fast-swimming predator niche similar to that of living orcas.
Q144144
toothed whale
Concept
Q34740
genus
Concept
Q7369
dolphin
Concept
Q101873
Oligocene
LOC
Q507810
epoch
Concept
Q252730
type
Concept
Q7432
species
Concept
Q40614
fossil
Concept
Q379061
basal
UNK
Q962872
derived
UNK
Q160
cetaceans
Concept
Q26843
orcas
Concept
Q97137902
Ankylorhiza
MISC
Q97137902
Ankylorhiza
MISC
Q97137902
Ankylorhiza
MISC
Q97137902
Ankylorhiza
MISC
+29^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
29
NUMBER
+23.5^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
23.5
NUMBER
parent taxon
taxon rank