Taphonomy and palacopathology of two mysticete whales, upper miocene pisco formation, Peru

Raύl Esperante, Orlando Poma

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6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two mysticete fossil whales from the upper Miocene of the Pisco Formation in Peru are described that show healed bone-fractures in ribs. One specimen is preserved in a tuffaceous, diatomaceous siltstone and the other specimen is preserved in siltstone. Both specimens are well preserved, mostly articulated and almost complete. Shark teeth were found associated with one of the skeletons, but both specimens lack any trace evidence for the activity of macro-scavengers. We suggest that the cause of bone fracture may have been collision with rocky shores, other whales, or large predators. The fact that the rib fractures healed indicates that the whales did not die due to the bone fractures. Sedimentologic and paleontological evidence indicate that they were rapidly buried in the marine platform with well-oxygenated water.

Translated title of the contributionTafonomía y paleopatología de dos ballenas mysticete, formación Pisco, mioceno superior, Peru
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-14
Number of pages14
JournalSpanish Journal of Palaeontology
Volume30
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2015

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