Auroracetus fossil map
Where fossils of Auroracetus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 5 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 5 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 5.333–3.6 million years ago (Zanclean) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Pontoporiidae |
| Named by | Gibson and Geisler 2009 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Yorktown |
About Auroracetus
Auroracetus, from Aurora (the location the holotype was discovered, Aurora N.C.) and the Latin cetus (whale), is a genus of Pontoporiidae, the river dolphins, and contains one extinct species. The species Auroracetus bakerae was published in 2009.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Auroracetus (revision 1255642665), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q18205284.
