Crenatosiren Explained

Crenatosiren is an extinct genus of dugongid sirenian known from the late Oligocene (Chattian) of Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The type and only known species is Crenatosiren olseni.[1]

Taxonomy

Crenatosiren was originally named "Halitherium" olseni by Rinehart (1976), who described the species from marine deposits of the late Oligocene (Arikareean NALMA) Parachucla Formation in the Suwannee River in Hamilton County, Florida. Domning (1991) eventually recognized the taxon as more derived than the Halitherium type species and assigned it to the new genus Crenatosiren, classifying it as a relative of the dugongid Rytiodus.[2] [3] The genus name is derived from the Latin words crenatus (meaning 'notched') and siren. More specimens of C. olseni were later found in the Ashley and Chandler Bridge formations of South Carolina.

Notes and References

  1. Domning . Daryl P. . 1997 . Fossil Sirenia of the West Atlantic and Caribbean Region. VI. Crenatosiren olseni (Reinhart, 1976) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 17 . 2 . 397–412 . 10.1080/02724634.1997.10010984 . 4523816 . 1997JVPal..17..397D . 0272-4634.
  2. R. H. Reinhart. 1976. Fossil sirenians and desmostylids from Florida and elsewhere. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum Biological Sciences 20(4):187-300
  3. Domning . Daryl P. . 1991-09-30 . A new genus for Halitherium olseni Reinhart, 1976 (Mammalia: Sirenia) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 11 . 3 . 398 . 10.1080/02724634.1991.10011407 . 1991JVPal..11..398D . 0272-4634.