The Beaked Whales of the Family Ziphiidae: An Account of the Beaked Whales of the Family Ziphiidae in the Collection of the United States Museum...True, Frederick W. (Frederick William)
Science
The Beaked Whales of the Family Ziphiidae: An Account of the Beaked Whales of the Family Ziphiidae in the Collection of the United States Museum...
True, Frederick W. (Frederick William)
Beaked whales
_Charleston_ (female, jr.).—This skeleton resembles the Newport one as
regards the facets for the articulation of the tubercles of the ribs,
except that the seventh thoracic resembles the sixth and has no lower
facet on the side of the centrum. The transverse processes of the ninth
thoracic are rather strongly curved backward, while those on the last
thoracic and first lumbar are nearly straight. On succeeding vertebræ
they are inclined forward. They are last traceable on the eighth or ninth
caudal (vertebra 35 or 36). None is perforated by a foramen.
Though the vertebræ are defective, there appear to have been no neural
spines on the fourth to the seventh cervicals, inclusive. The spine on
the first thoracic is short, and on the first to the fourth is pointed.
The spine disappears on the tenth caudal (vertebra 37).
The metapophyses assume the vertical position on the eighth thoracic. The
last of these processes is barely traceable on the tenth caudal (vertebra
37). The ridge on the side of the neural arch is well marked on the fifth
to the ninth caudals, inclusive. On the seventh caudal (vertebra 34) the
anterior and posterior facets for the chevrons are united on the right
side, and on the eighth caudal and succeeding vertebræ on both sides.
CERVICAL VERTEBRÆ.
_Barnegat City_ (female).—The first four cervicals are united. The
foramen above the anterior articular facets of the atlas is complete, and
the edges of these facets are raised. The inferior lateral process is
flat, broad, and strongly bent backward.
Second cervical: Inferior lateral process nearly as long as that of the
first cervical; broad, flat, and bent backward parallel with the process
of the first cervical. Superior lateral process short, strong, and flat.
A large incomplete foramen between it and the inferior process.
Third cervical: A short, conical inferior process, curved forward.
Fourth cervical: Similar, but with smaller and shorter inferior process.
Neural arch and spine complete; the latter fused with the preceding
spines. Arch not reducing the size of the neural canal.
Fifth cervical: Arch and spine broken. Arch nearly as broad as the
anterior epiphysis of the centrum. Inferior lateral process short,
straight, and directed obliquely outward.
Sixth cervical: Spine broken. Arch complete, nearly as wide as the
anterior epiphysis. Inferior lateral process short, thick, knobbed, and
directed obliquely outward and a very little forward. The left longer.
Seventh cervical: Spine obsolete. Arch complete, as wide as the anterior
epiphysis. No superior lateral process or metapophysis. A thick articular
facet for the head of the first rib on the middle of the side of the
centrum. No inferior lateral process.
Fused spines of the first to fourth cervicals bent backward; the mass
broad antero-posteriorly and rounded at the tip.
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