Plesiobalaenoptera fossil map
Where fossils of Plesiobalaenoptera 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 | 23.04–2.58 million years ago (Aquitanian to Piacenzian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Balaenopteridae |
| Named by | Bisconti 2010 |
| Fossil records | 14 occurrences at 7 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | South Africa, Chile, Italy |
| Rock formations | txn:42977, Varswater, Coquimbo, Bredasdorp & Varswater, Alexander Bay |
About Plesiobalaenoptera
Plesiobalaenoptera is a genus of extinct rorqual which existed in Italy during the late Miocene epoch. The type species is P. quarantellii. It is the oldest known rorqual from the Mediterranean basin. Fossils have been found from sediments of the Stirone River in Northern Italy (44.8°N 10.0°E / 44.8; 10.0, paleocoordinates 43.9°N 10.5°E / 43.9; 10.5) that were deposited during the Tortonian age, around 11 to 7 million years ago.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Plesiobalaenoptera (revision 1358261276), 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: Q3906651.
