What is "protororqualus"

Protororqualus is a genus of extinct rorqual from the late Pliocene ( Piacenzian, ) of Mount Pulgnasco, Italy (: paleocoordinates ).

The analysis made by identified Protororqualus as a late representative of the rorquals which survived in the Mediterranean at least until the late Pliocene. This would indicate that the Mediterranean basin played a vital role in preserving primitive rorquals while more derived forms established themselves in other oceans.