The Pungo River Formation is a geologic formation famous for its preservation of Miocene-aged fossils in North Carolina, particularly porpoise fossils. The presence of aquatic-type fossils provide proof that the area was once an underwater sea.
This vertebra comes from an unspecified porpoise species from within the Pungo River Formation.
Whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) evolved 50 million years ago during the Eocene. Early cetaceans were amphibious and actually hooved mammals.
There are currently 6 existing species of porpoises around the world.
Despite many similarities like intelligence and echolocation, porpoises and dolphins are completely different animals. Porpoises are smaller than dolphins; their teeth are spade-shaped; their bodies are more squat; and they are more closely related to narwhals and belugas.
Type: Fossil Porpoise Vertebra
Age: Miocene (14 million years old)
Formation: Pungo River Formation
Locality: Beaufort County, North Carolina
Size: 2.5 x 1.13 x 1.63 inches
Weight: 1.55 oz.