Serrated teeth in a new species of the early diverging macrophagous dolphin Ankylorhiza

Ankylorhiza tiedemani is a large agorophiid-grade toothed whale (Odontoceti) from the Oligocene Ashley and Chandler Bridge formations of Charleston, South Carolina; this species is further the largest Oligocene odontocete. Macrophagous adaptations in this extinct “killer” dolphin include large body size, large teeth, fluted enamel, thickened cementum, large temporal fossae, and similar range of motion at the occipital-atlantal joint as in Orcinus orca. A new species, Ankylorhiza serratidens sp. nov., is reported from the Ashley Formation of South Carolina (late Rupelian; 28–30 Ma) and is based on a skeleton preserving mandibles, distinctive dentition, atlas vertebra, and other postcrania. The dentition of this specimen has extensive serrations (measuring 0.9–1.3 mm) on the posterior postcanine teeth. Though similar in size to Ankylorhiza tiedemani, Ankylorhiza serratidens sp. nov. was even more highly specialized for macrophagy. Accessory cusps in ar-chaic cetaceans are preliminarily defined as being separated by deep notches and large size (>10% of mesiodistal crown length), with serrations preliminarily defined as lacking deep notches and small size (<5% of mesiodistal crown length). The holotype specimen bears several bone modifications including bite marks from sharks and Osedax bioerosion.