Zygorhiza kochii

 

Zygorhiza kochii

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Infraordo: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Cladus: Euungulata
Ordo: Artiodactyla
Cladus: Artiofabula
Cladus: Cetruminantia
Subordo: Whippomorpha
Infraordo: Cetacea
Cladus: †Archaeoceti

Familia: †Basilosauridae
Genus: †Zygorhiza
Species: †Z. kochii
Name

Zygorhiza True, 1908

Type species: Zygorhiza kochii True, 1908
References

True, F.W. 1908. The fossil cetacean, Dorudon serratus GIBBES. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 52 (4): 5–78.

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Zygorhiza kochii ("Koch's Yoke-Root") is an extinct species of cetacean.
Zygorhiza kochii skull
Zygorhiza kochii skeleton, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Zygorhiza was a smaller, less elongated, 6 m (20 foot) long relative of the famous Basilosaurus. Its bodily proportions were similar to those of modern whales, although, unlike modern species, it had a distinct neck, and flippers which could be moved at the elbow. Its hind limbs were rudimentary. Zygorhiza's one-metre (3-foot) skull had fearsome jaws with deadly teeth. Unlike modern cetaceans, it had a neck with seven vertebrae.[1]

Zygorhiza was also featured in the "Back To The Seas" episode of Paleoworld as well as on the "Whales" episode of "The Ultimate Guide" nature series.[specify]

State symbol

Zygorhiza kochii is the state fossil of Mississippi. The mounted specimen in the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson is commonly referred to as "Ziggy".

References

1. ^ Palmer, D., ed (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 231. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.