Research paper

Taphonomy and palaeopathology of two mysticete whales, upper Miocene Pisco Formation, Peru

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RAÚL ESPERANTE
Geoscience Research Institute, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA. resperante@llu.edu
Corresponding author

ORLANDO POMA
Universidad Peruana Unión, Carretera Central Km.19, Ñaña, Lima, Perú. opoma@epeu.edu.pe

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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 macro-scavengers. We suggest that the cause of bone fracture may have been collision with rocky shores, other wales, or large predators. The fact that the rib fractures healed indicates that the whales did not die due the bone fractures. Sedimentologic and paleontological evidence indicate that they were rapidly buried in the marine platform with well-oxygenated water.

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Keywords: Paleopathology, Myscticetii, Pisco Formation, taphonomy, marine mammal.

How to cite:  Esperante, R. & Poma, O. 2015. Taphonomy and palaeopathology of two mysticete whales, upper Miocene Pisco Fromation, Peru. Spanish Journal of Palaeontology, 30 (1), 1-14.

Received 12 December 2013, Accepted 18 July 2014, Published 30 June 2015

https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.30.1.17198

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