Prosqualodon

Prosqualodon is an extinct genus of Early to Middle Miocene cetacean from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Venezuela.

== Description == thumb|left|P. australis skeleton Prosqualodon was related to and looked like modern toothed whales. It was about long and resembled a dolphin. It had long jaws with interlocking teeth that jutted to the outside, remaining visible when the jaws were closed, like those of a gharial. In the back of the mouth it had triangular teeth similar to those of earlier cetaceans, but in most other respects, it was relatively advanced. It had developed the body form of modern whales, with a short neck and simple jaw structure, and like modern cetaceans, it also had a blowhole. The olfactory apparatus was reduced compared with earlier forms, suggesting that it had already lost much of its sense of smell, presumably relying on sound to catch its prey. The species Prosqualodon australis is distinguished by the autapomorphic feature that is its triangular parafalciform fossa. thumb|Life reconstruction of P. davidis == Species == Prosqualodon australis Lydekker, 1894 (type); from the early Miocene (Burdigalian) Castillo Formation of Venezuela and the Gaimán and Monte León Formations of Argentina Prosqualodon davidis Flynn, 1923; from the early Miocene (Aquitanian) of Tasmania, Australia "Prosqualodon" hamiltoni Benham, 1937; from the late Oligocene (Chattian) of New Zealand; appears to represent distinct genus.