Physeterula fossil map
Where fossils of Physeterula 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 | 27.3–0.0117 million years ago (Chattian to Late Pleistocene) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Physeteridae |
| Named by | Van Beneden 1877 |
| Fossil records | 34 occurrences at 15 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Türkiye, Netherlands, United Kingdom |
| Rock formations | txn:42967, Calvert, Tamiami, Groote Heide, ? Kalkofen, Red Crag |
About Physeterula
Physeterula was a prehistoric close relative of the sperm whale that lived in Europe and the United States during the Late Miocene-Late Pliocene. This species is classified as a large-bodied species.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Physeterula (revision 1377372421), 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: Q7189536.
