Kekenodontidae


Kekenodontidae is an extinct family of non-neocete pelagicetes from the Late Oligocene epoch of New Zealand.

Taxonomy

Although at times classified as basal mysticetes or basal odontocetes, recent cladistic analyses demonstrate that kekenodontids are phylogenetically intermediate between basilosaurids and neocetes.

Palaeobiology

Palaeoecology

Isotopic study has found that the δ13C values of kekenodontids were unusually low, suggesting that they fed mainly on prey belonging to low trophic levels.