Miobalaenoptera
Miobalaenoptera is an extinct genus of rorqual from the Late Miocene of Japan.
Description
Miobalaenoptera is distinguished from other rorquals in the features of the earbone as well strongly diverging basioccipital crestsThe holotype specimen was found in marine deposits in Numata town, Hokkaido, Japan. It was initially assigned to Balaenoptera cf. acutorostrata by Shinohara and thought to be Pliocene in age, but analysis of diatoms in the matrix and preparation showed it to not only late Miocene but also a distinct species of extinct rorqual.