Balaenula fossil map
Where fossils of Balaenula 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 | 20.45–0.774 million years ago (Burdigalian to Calabrian) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Balaenidae |
| Named by | Van Beneden 1872 |
| Fossil records | 48 occurrences at 22 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, France |
| Rock formations | txn:42978, Yorktown, Red Crag, Sabbie d'Asti, Drakes Bay, San Mateo |
About Balaenula
Balaenula is an extinct genus of baleen whale species which lived during the Pliocene epoch of Europe and possibly North America. Balaenula is a small whale measuring within the range of 6–8 metres (20–26 ft) in length.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Balaenula (revision 1332560491), 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: Q3633194.
