Matapanui

Matapanui Temporal range: Late Oligocene, 28.1–27.3 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	†Eomysticetidae
Genus:	†Matapanui Boessenecker and Fordyce, 2016
Species
M. waihao (Boessenecker and Fordyce, 2016) (type)
Synonyms
Matapa Boessenecker and Fordyce, 2016 (preoccupied)

Matapanui is a genus of eomysticetid baleen whale from the Late Oligocene (early Chattian) Kokoamu Greensand of New Zealand.

Taxonomy[]

Matapanui was originally named Matapa, but that name was already in use for a genus of butterfly, necessitating the name change.^[1][2]

Paleobiology[]

Based on the enlarged temporal fossae and enlarged mandibular canal, Matapanui was probably incapable of lunge-feeding, although it remains unclear whether it could skim-feed or filter prey in the benthic zone. Waharoa shared its habitat with the odontocetes , , Otekaikea, and Waipatia, and the mysticetes Horopeta, Mauicetus, Tohoraata, Tokarahia, Waharoa, and Whakakai.

References[]