Pelocetus fossil map
Where fossils of Pelocetus 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 | 20.45–7.246 million years ago (Burdigalian to Tortonian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Named by | Kellogg 1965 |
| Fossil records | 14 occurrences at 6 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, France, Peru, Japan |
| Rock formations | Calvert, txn:NF, Pisco, Korematsu |
About Pelocetus
Pelocetus is an extinct genus of baleen whale, belonging to the family Pelocetidae. Fossils have been found in Miocene-aged marine strata in North America.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Pelocetus (revision 1050221050), 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: Q48971211.
