Lophocetus fossil map
Where fossils of Lophocetus 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 | 12.5–7.246 million years ago (Serravallian to Tortonian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Lophocetidae |
| Named by | Cope 1867 |
| Fossil records | 8 occurrences at 4 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Santa Margarita, Peace River, St Marys, St. Marys |
About Lophocetus
Lophocetus ("crested whale") is an extinct genus of dolphin belonging to the clade Delphinida that is known from late Miocene (Tortonian) marine deposits in California and Maryland. Although usually placed in Kentriodontidae, recent studies have found it only distantly related to Kentriodon.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Lophocetus (revision 1323464614), 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: Q48773840.
