Metopocetus fossil map
Where fossils of Metopocetus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 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 15 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 | 13.82–7.246 million years ago (Serravallian to Tortonian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Cetotheriidae |
| Named by | Cope 1896 |
| Fossil records | 6 occurrences at 3 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Netherlands |
| Rock formations | Calvert, Diessen, Choptank |
About Metopocetus
Metopocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale belonging to the family Cetotheriidae. The type species is Metopocetus durinasus.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Metopocetus (revision 1367712297), 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: Q18344199.
