Xhosacetus fossil map
Where fossils of Xhosacetus 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 | 15.98 million years ago to the present (Langhian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Ziphiidae |
| Named by | Bianucci et al. 2007 |
| Fossil records | 4 occurrences at 2 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | South Africa, O6 |
| Rock formations | txn:42951 |
About Xhosacetus
Xhosacetus is a genus of ziphiid cetaceans with a single species, Xhosacetus hendeysi. It was classified from fossils found off the coast of the Kerguelen islands in 1,145 meter deep water.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Xhosacetus (revision 1314864488), 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: Q21356482.
