Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

Pinocetus polonicus gen.n., sp.n. (Cetacea) from the Miocene Limestones of Pińczów, Poland

Teresa Czyżewska and Zbigniew Ryziewicz

Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 21 (3), 1976: 259-291

An incomplete skeleton with a damaged skull of a whale of the family Cetotheriidae, discovered near Pińczów, central Poland, is described and assigned to the new genus and species, Pinocetus polonicus. In the structure of the skull with its telescopic shape it is similar to Aulocetus sammarinensis Capellini, family Cetotheriidae. In the present writers' opinion, Pinocetus polonicus and Mixocetus elysius belong to the same evolutionary stock. It is suggested that Pinocetus was not yet an efficient swimmer and was incapable of rapid and deep diving. It lived in shallow Miocene seas, but could also reach distant off shore areas.


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