Idiocetus fossil map
Where fossils of Idiocetus 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 | 11.63–1.8 million years ago (Tortonian to Gelasian) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Balaenidae |
| Named by | Capellini 1876 |
| Fossil records | 4 occurrences at 2 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Japan, Italy |
| Rock formations | txn:42978 |
About Idiocetus
Idiocetus ("unique whale") is a genus of extinct cetaceans of the family Balaenidae.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Idiocetus (revision 1358258726), 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: Q16983510.
