Plesiocetus fossil map
Where fossils of Plesiocetus 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 | 23.04–0.774 million years ago (Aquitanian to Calabrian) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Named by | (Van Beneden 1859) |
| Fossil records | 12 occurrences at 2 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Belgium, France |
| Rock formations | Diest, txn:NF |
About Plesiocetus
Plesiocetus is a genus of extinct rorquals found worldwide. It has had a chequered taxonomic history, having served as a wastebasket genus for a handful of mysticete species.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Plesiocetus (revision 1258135646), 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: Q15697126.
