Diaphorocetus is now a protected name

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A new study has been published that redescribes the ancient sperm whale genus Diaphorocetus poucheti. The new study creates a polytomy with Aulophyseter rionegrensis and the families Physeteridae and Kogiidae. It also suggests that the facial asymmetry and clearly defined supracranial basin of this genus have been characteristic of this lineage for at least 20 million years. The study also shows that Diaphorocetus is one of the smallest known physeteroids, that its spermaceti organ is moderately developed, and that its cranial morphology suggests an intermediate raptorial or suction feeding strategy. Diaphorocetus was originally named Mesocetus in 1892, but this name was found to belong to an extinct mysticete a year later and was changed to Hypocetus. A year after this change, another researcher also determined that Mesocetus was in use but was unaware of the change to Hypocetus, resulting in the coining of the name Diaphorocetus. Due to this complicated taxonomic history, this study declares the name Diaphorocetus a nomen protectum, as the alternate names Hypocetus and Paracetus have not been validly used since 1899. Here's a link to the paper describing this study.

Paper (abstract only): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2019.1605544