Marine mammals from the Miocene of Panama

Panama has produced an abundance of Neogene marine fossils both invertebrate (mollusks, corals, microfossils etc.) and vertebrate (fish, land mammals etc.), but marine mammals have not been previously reported. Here we describe a cetacean thoracic vertebra from the late Miocene Tobabe Formation, a partial cetacean rib from the late Miocene Gatun Formation, and a sirenian caudal vertebra and rib fragments from the early Miocene Culebra Formation. These finds suggest that Central America may yet provide additional fossil marine mammal specimens that will help us to understand the evolution, and particularly the biogeography of these groups.

Research highlights► Cetacean fossils are described from the Miocene Tobabe and Gatun Formations. ► The Gatun cetacean fossil represents the earliest cetacean fossil described Central American (Serravallian). ► Sirenian fossils are described from the Miocene Culebra Formation. ► Two species of sirenians were present in the Miocene Culebra Formation.