Dagonodum
| Dagonodum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Ziphiidae |
| Genus: | †Dagonodum Ramassamy, 2016 |
| Species: | †D. mojnum
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Dagonodum mojnum Ramassamy, 2016
| |
Dagonodumis an extinct genus ofziphiidcetacean known fromTortonianage marine deposits in theGram Formationin Denmark. There is only one known species,Dagonodum mojnum.[1]
Etymology
[edit]The genus name is a reference to the godDagon,worshiped as the head god and as a deity of prosperity in ancient inlandSyria,but best known fromH.P. Lovecraft'sshort story,where he is instead depicted as deep-sea deity. The species name is a reference to the word for "goodbye" in the localSouth Jutlandicdialect where the fossils were found. The word, "mojn",is ofGermanorigin, where it is used as both a greeting and a farewell.[1]
Taxonomy
[edit]The species is distinguished by its two pairs of mandibular tusks and long snout. It also possessed a long neck, leading to speculation that it wasn't well suited to deep-dives.[1]
Feeding
[edit]The species is notable for its difference from other ziphiidae of the period in that it seems to be less reliant on suction feeding.[2]
References
[edit]- ^abc"Dagonodum mojnum".gbif.org.
- ^Ramassamy, Benjamin; Lauridsen, Henrik (2019)."A new specimen of Ziphiidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti) from the late Miocene of Denmark with morphological evidence for suction feeding behaviour".Royal Society Open Science.6(10): 191347.Bibcode:2019RSOS....691347R.doi:10.1098/rsos.191347.PMC6837206.PMID31824732.