Definition of Mysticeti in English:
Mysticeti
plural noun ˌmɪstɪˈsiːtiˌmistəˈsēˌtī
Zoology A division of the whales that comprises the baleen whales.
Suborder Mysticeti, order Cetacea
Example sentencesExamples
- The extant sub-orders are the Mysticeti (baleen whales) and the Odontoceti (toothed whales).
- In the Late Oligocene, a fundamental split occurred between the Odontoceti and the Mysticeti.
- Estimates for Tragulidae, Odontoceti, and Mysticeti are generally younger and close together in time, followed by a still more recent divergence of cervids, bovids, antilocaprids and giraffids.
- Modern whales may be divided into two subgroups: the Odontoceti (toothed whales) and the Mysticeti (baleen whales).
Derivatives
noun & adjective
Zoology Both the mysticetes and odontocetes are thought to be descendants of the archaeocetes.
Example sentencesExamples
- Curiously, while sperm whales unquestionably have teeth, recent molecular data and a reanalysis of their anatomy has suggested that they may be highly derived mysticetes.
- This anatomic geometry supports the idea of acoustic frequency filtering and channeling functions in odontocetes and low frequency hearing in mysticetes.
- The throats of balaenids are smooth, lacking the furrows or grooves of some other mysticetes.
- Interestingly, the late Oligocene whale Aetiocetus, from Oregon, has skull and jaw features typical of baleen whales, and is considered to be the earliest mysticete - yet it also bore a full set of teeth.
Origin
Modern Latin (plural), from Greek mustikētos representing (in old editions of Aristotle) the phrase ho mus to kētos 'the mouse, the whale so called'.