Scaphokogia fossil map
Where fossils of Scaphokogia 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 | 11.63–2.58 million years ago (Tortonian to Piacenzian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Kogiidae |
| Named by | Muizon 1988 |
| Fossil records | 8 occurrences at 4 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Peru, Mexico |
| Rock formations | Pisco, Tirabuzon |
About Scaphokogia
Scaphokogia is an extinct genus of pygmy sperm whales that lived off the coasts of Mexico and Peru, South America during the Late Miocene to Late Pliocene. Two species have currently been described: the type species S. cochlearis and S. totajpe. It is estimated to have reached up to 2.2–2.8 metres (7.2–9.2 ft) in total length. Fossils of Scaphokogia have been found in the Tirabuzon Formation of Baja California and the Pisco Formation of Peru. Scaphokogia existed about 5 million years ago, and were relatively rare animals.
A 2022 study which examined specimens of multiple phseteroids, including specimens assigned to both species of Scaphokogia, and discovered bite marks consistent with the teeth of either the modern Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) or the extinct Otodontid shark Otodus megalodon, on multiple regions of the skull.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Scaphokogia (revision 1374103945), 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: Q24884271.
