Taphonomy of a Mysticeti whale in the Lower Pliocene Huelva Sands Formation (Southern Spain)
Esperante, R. (Geoscience Research Institute)
Muñiz Guinea, F. (Universidad de Huelva)
Nick, K. E. (Loma Linda University. Department of Earth and Biological Sciences)

Date:	2009
Abstract:	This paper reports the occurrence of an incomplete fossil baleen whale skeleton in the Lower Pliocene Huelva Sands Formation (Guadalquivir basin) near the town of Bonares, southwestern Spain. The skeleton was found in the highly bioturbated glauconitic sandstone unit in association with Neopycnodonte cochlear shells. Several morphological features of the mandibles, scapula and vertebrae suggest that the specimen belongs in the suborden Mysticeti, family Balaenopteridae. Most bones show abrasion due to a long exposure on the seafloor, and some bones show shark tooth marks and both micro- and macro-bioerosion by scavengers. The position of the bones suggests that the carcass landed on the seafloor on its left side and then turned right side up. Sedimentological and paleontological features indicate that the whale was buried in shallow platform waters under low sedimentation rates.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan aquestes es distribueixin sota la mateixa llicència que regula l'obra original i es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Baleen whale ; Mysticeti ; Neogene ; Guadalquivir basin
Published in:	Geologica acta, Vol. 7, Núm. 4 (Desembre 2009) , p. 489-505, ISSN 1696-5728

Adreça alternativa: https://raco.cat/index.php/GeologicaActa/article/view/140188
Adreça alternativa: https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/GEOACTA/article/view/105.000001451
DOI: 10.1344/105.000001451

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