Ewan and I are pleased to announce a new article, describing a 

new fossil baleen whale, Whakakai waipata, from the Oligocene 

of New Zealand.

Tsai, CH and Fordyce, RE. 2016. Archaic baleen whale from the 

Kokoamu Greensand: earbones distinguish a new late Oligocene 

mysticete (Cetacea: Mysticeti) from New Zealand. Journal of the 

Royal Society of New Zealand, doi: 10.1080/03036758.2016.1156552

Available at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03036758.2016.1156552?journalCode=tnzr20

or email Tsai: cheng-hsiu.tsai@otago.ac.nz or craniata@gmail.com

Abstract:

†Whakakai waipata is a new genus and species of Mysticeti from 

the Kokoamu Greensand (Chattian, Late Oligocene, 25–27 Ma) of 

‘The Earthquakes’, North Otago. The holotype of †Whakakai waipata 

is a partial skull, periotics, tympanic bulla, vertebrae and scapula. The 

earbone morphology of †Whakakai waipata shows a unique combination 

of diagnostic features including: massive periotic; flange of posterior 

process and caudal tympanic process flooring stapedial muscle fossa; 

and an elongated stylomastoid fossa that invades the robust posterior 

process of the periotic. The tympanoperiotic features in †Whakakai waipata

suggest a different acoustic niche from other Oligocene mysticetes, and 

by inference different feeding habits and habitat.

Regards and all the best,

Tsai

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