Nihohae fossil map
Where fossils of Nihohae have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 30 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 30 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 | 27.3–25.2 million years ago (Chattian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Waipatiidae |
| Named by | Coste et al. 2023 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | New Zealand |
| Rock formations | Kokoamu Greensand |
About Nihohae
Nihohae (meaning “slashing teeth”; pronounced Nee-Ho-Hah-Ey) is an extinct genus of waipatiid dolphin that was native to the waters surrounding New Zealand during the Oligocene. It possessed long, tusk-like teeth unlike those of any extant cetacean, which were likely used like the “saw” of a sawfish to stun and injure prey. The genus contains a single species, N. matakoi, known from a partial skull and skeleton.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Nihohae (revision 1370056189), 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: Q120023315.
