Natural endocranial cast of a delphinid (Cetacea, Delphinidae) from the Pińczów Limestones (Middle Miocene; Holy Cross Mountains, Central Poland)

Abstract

A description and interpretation of the natural endocranial cast of an undetermined delphinid (Delphinidae, gen. et sp. indet.) is presented from the Middle Miocene (Badenian) deposits (the Pińczów Limestones) situated on the southern slopes of the Holy Cross Mountains, Central Poland. The cast originated in the skull of a delphinid whose body length is estimated as about 1.5 m. Some remarks on the evolutionary position of that delphinid, and its relation to the extant forms are also offered.