Messapicetus fossil map
Where fossils of Messapicetus 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 | 20.45–5.333 million years ago (Burdigalian to Messinian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Ziphiidae |
| Named by | Bianucci et al. 1992 |
| Fossil records | 30 occurrences at 9 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Peru, Italy, Spain |
| Rock formations | Pisco, Monterey, Pietra Leccese, St Marys, txn:42951 |
About Messapicetus
Messapicetus is an extinct genus of beaked whale from the Late Miocene. It currently holds two species, M. longirostris from the Tortonian of Italy and M. gregarius from the Pisco Formation of Peru. However, a third unnamed species is represented in the St. Marys Formation of Maryland known from fragmentary material. M. gregarius is sexually dimorphic, males having tusks which are hypothesized to have been used in intraspecific combat for mates as in extant (living) beaked whales. Messapicetus reached a body length of about 4.1–4.5 meters (13–15 ft) and weighed 1.8 metric tons (2.0 short tons).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Messapicetus (revision 1374794316), 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: Q56327271.
