Zygorhiza Facts and Figures

Zygorhiza Facts and Figures Name: Zygorhiza (Greek for yoke root); pronounced ZIE-go-RYE-za Habitat: Shores of North America Historical Epoch: Late Eocene (40-35 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and one ton Diet: Fish and squids Distinguishing Characteristics: Long, narrow body; long head About Zygorhiza Like its fellow prehistoric whale Dorudon, Zygorhiza was closely related to the monstrous Basilosaurus, but differed from both of its cetacean cousins in that it had an unusually sleek, narrow body and a long head perched on a short neck. Strangest of all, Zygorhizas front flippers were hinged at the elbows, a hint that this prehistoric whale may have lumbered up onto land to give birth to its young. By the way, along with Basilosaurus, Zygorhiza is the state fossil of Mississippi; the skeleton at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is affectionately known as Ziggy.