Family 16. HYPEROODONTIDÆ.
Hyperoodontina, Gray, l. c. p. 327.
Hyperoodontidæ, Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 9.
Blower lunate. Beak of the skull with a high crest on each side above, formed by the elevation of the maxillary bones in front of the blower. Teeth 2 or 4, in front of the lower jaw, conical. Cervical vertebræ united into one mass.
1. HYPEROODON.
Hyperoodon, Gray, l. c. pp. 327, 328; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 9.
Beak of the skull bent downwards: crest of the back of the beak sharp-edged, above as high as the occiput.
Vertebræ 44 or 45:—C. 7 (all united into one solid mass). D. 9. L. 10. C. 18 or 19.
1. Hyperoodon butzkopf.
B.M.
Hyperoodon butzkopf, Gray, l. c. p. 330; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 9, t. 3.
Hyperoodon rostratum, Reinhardt, in Eschricht’s Vid. Selsk. v. t. 7 (male fœtus and skeleton); Gray, Synops. Whales & Dolph. t. 3. f. 1-4.
Inhab. North Sea.
1. Hyperoodon semijunctus, Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1865, p. 15 (280), 1869, p. 21.
Inhab. Charlestown Harbour.
Most likely a variety of H. butzkopf.
2. LAGENOCETUS.
Lagenocetus, Gray, l. c. pp. 327, 336; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 9.
Beak of the skull straight, erect, very large, flattened, higher than the occiput.
1. Lagenocetus latifrons.
B.M.
Lagenocetus latifrons, Gray, l. c. p. 339; Synops. Whales & Dolph. p. 9.
Hyperoodon latifrons, Gray, Zool. Ereb. & Ter. t. 24; Reinhardt, in Eschricht’s Vidensk. Selsk. Skr. v. t. 6 (skull).
Inhab. North Sea.
“Plate 6 represents the skull of a male of Hyperoodon latifrons (Gray), from the Färöer, of which the complete skeleton, 25 feet long, is preserved in the University’s Museum.
“Eschricht believed, as is known, that H. latifrons was established on a very old male of the common Dögling, Hyperoodon rostratus; but Gray’s species must now be regarded as well grounded.
“Plate 7 represents the male (fœtus) of the common H. rostratus. All figures of half the natural size.”—Reinhardt.