Saghacetus fossil map
Where fossils of Saghacetus 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 | 41.03–33.9 million years ago (Bartonian to Priabonian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Basilosauridae |
| Named by | Gingerich 1992 |
| Fossil records | 24 occurrences at 10 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Egypt, Western Sahara, Germany |
| Rock formations | Qasr el-Sagha, Qasr El Sagha, Samlat, Gehlberg |
About Saghacetus
Saghacetus is an extinct genus of basilosaurid early whale, fossils of which have been found in the Upper Eocene (middle Priabonian, 37.2 to 33.9 million years ago) Qasr el Sagha Formation, Egypt (29.7°N 30.8°E / 29.7; 30.8, paleocoordinates 25.0°N 26.7°E / 25.0; 26.7).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Saghacetus (revision 1296364890), 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: Q3763133.
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