Meherrinia isoni is an extinct river dolphin, the only known species of the genus Meherrinia, described in 2012 by Geisler and colleagues from fossils found along the Meherrin River in North Carolina, in the United States. In most respects it was intermediate in form between the living Amazon river dolphin and the La Plata dolphin, although it is probably more closely related to the former. The fossil came from what are believed to be marine deposits dating from the late Miocene, so it was a marine rather than freshwater animal, and as of 2012 it was the only known marine genus of the family Iniidae. The Paleobiology Database gives a slightly younger age range, from the Zanclean into the Piacenzian.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Meherrinia (Wikipedia)
In Biome
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Meherrinia (Wikipedia)Lead, localityQuote, Lead, locality
North Carolina, in the United States
Sources
1. Paleobiology Database: Paleobiology Database taxon record of Meherrinia isoni
Paleobiology DatabaseEcospace diet field, assigned at the level of OdontocetiQuote, Ecospace diet field, assigned at the level of Odontoceti
carnivore
View the Source 2. Paleobiology Database: Paleobiology Database fossil occurrences of Meherrinia
Paleobiology DatabaseOccurrence record of Meherrinia isoni, environment field, Meherrin River collectionQuote, Occurrence record of Meherrinia isoni, environment field, Meherrin River collection
marine indet.
View the Source 3. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Meherrinia isoni
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, extinct flag (living or extinct)Quote, Taxon record, extinct flag (living or extinct)
"ext": "0"
View the Source Meherrinia (Wikipedia)
Lead, locality
North Carolina, in the United States
Child Taxon Of: Meherrinia, Lead, species
Only one species is known
Child Taxon Of: Iniidae, Lead
the only known marine genus of the family Iniidae
In Group: Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises), Lead, group placement
inioid river dolphin
In Biome: Marine, Description, lifestyle
believed to be marine deposits
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