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Physeteroidea

Mammalia - Cetacea

Taxonomy
Physeteroidea was named by Gray (1868). It is extant. It was considered monophyletic by Uhen et al. (2008), Lambert et al. (2010).

It was assigned to Denticete by Gray (1871); to Denticete by Gill (1872); to Physeterida by Fordyce and de Muizon (2001); to Panphyseteroidea by Boersma and Pyenson (2015), Velez-Juarbe et al. (2015), Velez-Juarbe et al. (2016), Berta (2017), Benites-Palomino et al. (2020); to Odontoceti by Bianucci and Landini (2007), Agnarsson and May-Collado (2008), Rice (2009), Canto et al. (2010), Lambert et al. (2010), Geisler et al. (2011), Marx et al. (2016), Collareta et al. (2017), Piazza et al. (2018), Collareta et al. (2019), Lambert et al. (2023); to Stegoceti by Boessenecker and Geisler (2023); and to Odontoceti by Simpson (1945), Fraser and Purves (1960), Kasuya (1973), Gondar (1974), Barnes et al. (1985), Fordyce and Barnes (1994), Fordyce et al. (1995), Hirota and Barnes (1995), McKenna and Bell (1997), Rice (1998), Rice (2002), Kazár (2002), Geisler and Sanders (2003), Gingerich (2005), Bianucci and Landini (2006), Hampe (2006), Lambert (2008), Bloodworth and Odell (2008), Whitmore and Kaltenbach (2008), Uhen et al. (2008), Bianucci et al. (2011), Carone and Marra (2014), Reumer et al. (2017), Lambert (2020), Alfsen et al. (2021), Godfrey and Lambert (2023), Paolucci et al. (2025).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1868Physeteroidea Gray p. 1868
1871Physeteroidea Gray p. 57
1872Physeteroidea Gill p. 96
1945Physeteroidea Simpson p. 101
1960Physeteroidea Fraser and Purves p. 112 figs. Figure 26
1973Physeteroidea Kasuya p. 61
1974Physeteroidea Gondar
1985Physeteroidea Barnes et al. p. 26
1994Physeteroidea Fordyce and Barnes p. 428 figs. Table 1
1995Physeteroidea Fordyce et al. p. 379
1995Physeteroidea Hirota and Barnes p. 455
1997Physeteroidea McKenna and Bell p. 379
1998Physeteroidea Rice
2001Physeteroidea Fordyce and de Muizon p. 179
2002Physeteroidea Kazár p. 154
2002Physeteroidea Rice p. 231 figs. Table 1
2003Physeteroidea Geisler and Sanders p. 28
2005Physeteroidea Gingerich p. 237 figs. Table 15.1
2006Physeteroidea Bianucci and Landini
2006Physeteroidea Hampe p. 64
2007Physeteroidea Bianucci and Landini p. 45 figs. Table 2.1
2008Physeteroidea Agnarsson and May-Collado p. 981 figs. Fig. 4.3
2008Physeteroidea Bloodworth and Odell p. 1
2008Physeteroidea Lambert p. 279
2008Physeteroidea Uhen et al. p. 573
2008Physeteroidea Whitmore and Kaltenbach p. 230
2009Physeteroidea Rice p. 235 figs. Table 1
2010Physeteroidea Canto et al. p. 20
2010Physeteroidea Lambert et al. p. 105
2011Physeteroidea Bianucci et al. p. 560
2011Physeteroidea Geisler et al. p. 5 figs. Table 1
2014Physeteroidea Carone and Marra p. 122
2015Physeteroidea Boersma and Pyenson p. 7
2015Physeteroidea Velez-Juarbe et al. p. 5
2016Physeteroidea Marx et al. p. 122
2016Physeteroidea Velez-Juarbe et al. pp. e1135806-2
2017Physeteroidea Berta p. 161
2017Physeteroidea Collareta et al. p. 261
2017Physeteroidea Reumer et al. p. 33
2018Physeteroidea Piazza et al. p. 276
2019Physeteroidea Collareta et al.
2020Physeteroidea Benites-Palomino et al. p. 3
2020Physeteroidea Lambert p. 1708
2021Physeteroidea Alfsen et al. p. 809
2023Physeteroidea Boessenecker and Geisler p. 152
2023Physeteroidea Godfrey and Lambert p. 62
2023Physeteroidea Lambert et al. p. 662
2025Physeteroidea Paolucci et al. p. 5

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
—Mammaliamorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
—Cladotheria
—Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
—Eutheria()
—Placentalia
—Boreoeutheria
—Laurasiatheria
—Scrotifera
—Euungulata
—Artiodactylamorpha
—Artiodactyla()
—Whippomorpha
orderCetacea
—Pelagiceti
—Neoceti
suborderOdontoceti
superfamilyPhyseteroidea
superfamilyPhyseteroidea

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Superfm. Physeteroidea Gray 1868
show all | hide all
G. †Acrophyseter Lambert et al. 2008
+
†Acrophyseter deinodon Lambert et al. 2008
†Acrophyseter robustus Lambert et al. 2017
G. †Albicetus Boersma and Pyenson 2015
+
†Albicetus oxymycterus Kellogg 1925
G. †Angelocetus Peri et al. 2022
+
†Angelocetus cursiensis Peri et al. 2022
G. †Brygmophyseter Kimura et al. 2006
+
†Brygmophyseter shigensis Hirota and Barnes 1995
Invalid names: Naganocetus Bianucci and Landini 2006 [replaced]
G. †Cozzuoliphyseter Paolucci et al. 2021
+
G. †Eudelphis Du Bus 1872
+
†Eudelphis mortezelensis Du Bus 1872
G. †Ferecetotherium Mchedlidze 1970
+
†Ferecetotherium kelloggi Mchedlidze 1970
G. †Hoplocetus Gervais 1852
+
†Hoplocetus crassidens Gervais 1852
†Hoplocetus curvidens Gervais 1852
†Hoplocetus ritzi Hampe 2006
Invalid names: Hoplocetus obesus Leidy 1868 [nomen dubium]
Fm. Kogiidae Miller 1923 [pygmy sperm whale]
+
G. †Aprixokogia Whitmore and Kaltenbach 2008
+
†Aprixokogia kelloggi Whitmore and Kaltenbach 2008
Subfm. Kogiinae Gill 1871
+
G. Kogia Gray 1846
+
Kogia breviceps Blainville 1838 [pygmy sperm whale]
+
Invalid names: Euphysetes grayii MacLeay 1851 [synonym], Euphysetes pottsii Haast 1873 [synonym], Kogia brevirostris Gray 1865 [invalid subgroup], Kogia floweri Gill 1871 [synonym], Kogia goodie True 1884 [synonym], Kogia macleayii Kreft 1865 [synonym]
†Kogia danomurai Benites-Palomino et al. 2021
†Kogia pusilla Pilleri 1987
Kogia sima Owen 1866 [dwarf sperm whale]
Invalid names: Callignathus Gill 1871 [synonym], Cogia Gray 1846 [synonym], Euphysetes Wall 1851 [synonym]
G. †Koristocetus Collareta et al. 2017
+
†Koristocetus pescei Collareta et al. 2017
G. †Nanokogia Velez-Juarbe et al. 2015
+
†Nanokogia isthmia Velez-Juarbe et al. 2015
G. †Pliokogia Collareta et al. 2019
+
†Pliokogia apenninica Collareta et al. 2019
G. †Praekogia Barnes 1973
+
†Praekogia cedrosensis Barnes 1973
Subfm. †Scaphokogiinae Muizon 1988
+
G. †Platyscaphokogia Collareta et al. 2020
+
†Platyscaphokogia landinii Collareta et al. 2020
G. †Scaphokogia Muizon 1988
+
†Scaphokogia cochlearis Muizon 1988
†Scaphokogia totajpe Benites-Palomino et al. 2020
G. †Livyatan Lambert et al. 2010
+
†Livyatan melvillei Lambert et al. 2010
Invalid names: Leviathan Lambert et al. 2010 [replaced]
G. †Miophyseter Kimura and Hasegawa 2022
+
†Miophyseter chitaensis Kimura and Hasegawa 2022
Fm. Physeteridae Gray 1821 [sperm whale]
+
G. †Aulophyseter Kellogg 1927
+
†Aulophyseter morricei Kellogg 1927
G. †Diaphorocetus Ameghino 1894
+
†Diaphorocetus ortegai Lambert et al. 2023
†Diaphorocetus poucheti Moreno 1892
Invalid names: Hypocetus Lydekker 1894 [objective synonym], Mesocetus Moreno 1892 [synonym], Paracetus Lydekker 1894 [objective synonym]
G. †Eophyseter Bisconti et al. 2025
+
†Eophyseter damarcoi Bisconti et al. 2025
Subfm. †Hoplocetinae Cabrera 1926
+
Invalid names: Balaenodon physaloides Owen 1846 [nomen dubium], Physetodon baileyi McCoy 1879 [nomen dubium], Physodon leccense Gervais 1872 [nomen dubium]
G. †Idiophyseter Kellogg 1925
+
†Idiophyseter merriami Kellogg 1925
G. †Idiorophus Kellogg 1925
+
†Idiorophus bolzanensis Dal Piaz 1916
†Idiorophus patagonicus Lydekker 1894
Invalid names: Apenophyseter Cabrera 1926 [synonym]
G. †Kogiopsis Kellogg 1929
+
†Kogiopsis floridana Kellogg 1929
G. †Orycterocetus Leidy 1853
+
+
Invalid names: Gargantuodon ligerensis Ginsburg 1969 [synonym]
Invalid names: Gargantuodon Ginsburg 1969 [synonym]
G. Physeter Linnaeus 1758
+
†Physeter antiquus Gervais 1849
Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus 1758 [sperm whale]
+
Invalid names: Balaena macrocephalus Desmoulins 1822 [synonym], Megistosaurus ensiformis Godman 1827 [synonym], Physeter catodon Linnaeus 1758 [synonym]
†Physeter vetus Leidy 1869
+
Invalid names: Physeter antiquus Leidy 1853 [objective synonym]
Invalid names: Catodon Linnaeus 1761 [synonym], Cetus Billberg 1828 [synonym], Meganeuron Gray 1866 [synonym], Megistosaurus Godman 1827 [synonym], Orthodon Rafinesque 1815 [synonym], Physalus Lacépède 1804 [synonym]
G. †Physeterula Van Beneden 1877
+
†Physeterula dubusi Van Beneden 1877
+
Invalid names: Delphinus acutidens von Meyer 1859 [synonym]
†Physeterula neolassicus Veatch and Stephenson 1911
G. †Placoziphius Van Beneden 1869
+
†Placoziphius duboisii Van Beneden 1869
G. †Thalassocetus Abel 1905
+
Invalid names: Aulophyseterinae Kazár 2002 [empty], Catodontidae Cuvier 1836 [synonym], Orca semseyi Böckh 1899 [invalid subgroup], Orcopsis Van Beneden 1876 [nomen dubium], Paleophoca Van Beneden 1859 [nomen nudum], Physeterina Gray 1825 [synonym], Physeterinae Flower 1867 [empty], Physodontidae Lydekker 1894 [invalid subgroup], Physotherium Portis 1886 [nomen dubium], Scaldicetus lodgei Chapman 1917 [nomen dubium], Ziphioides Probst 1886 [nomen dubium], Ziphiola Vanden Broeck 1874 [nomen nudum]
G. †Preaulophyseter Caviglia and Jorge 1980
+
†Preaulophyseter gualichensis Caviglia and Jorge 1980
G. †Rhaphicetus Lambert 2020
+
†Rhaphicetus valenciae Lambert 2020
G. †Scaldicetus Du Bus 1867
+
†Scaldicetus bellunensis Dal Piaz 1922
†Scaldicetus caretti Du Bus 1867
+
Invalid names: Eucetus amblyodon Du Bus 1867 [synonym], Homaeocetus villersii Du Bus 1867 [synonym], Palaeodelphis arcuatus Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Palaeodelphis fusiformis Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Palaeodelphis pachyodon Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Palaeodelphis zonatus Du Bus 1872 [synonym]
†Scaldicetus degiorgii Varola et al. 1988
†Scaldicetus grandis Du Bus 1872
+
Invalid names: Palaeodelphis annulatus Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Palaeodelphis coronatus Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Palaeodelphis minutus Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Physodon lorteti Depéret 1887 [synonym]
†Scaldicetus inflatus Cigala-Fulgosi and Pilleri 1985
†Scaldicetus macgeei Chapman 1912
†Scaldicetus minor Portis 1886
†Scaldicetus perpinguis Pilleri and Pilleri 1982
Invalid names: Eucetus Du Bus 1867 [synonym], Otaria prisca Gervais 1859 [nomen dubium], Palaeodelphis Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Physodon Gervais 1872 [synonym], Scaldicetus crispus Cigala-Fulgosi and Pilleri 1985 [nomen nudum]
G. †Zygophyseter Bianucci and Landini 2006
+
†Zygophyseter varolai Bianucci and Landini 2006
Invalid names: Physeterida Muizon 1988 [empty]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
M. D. Uhen et al. 2008Living sperm whales encompass the Physeteridae and Kogiidae, which are classified together in the Physeteroidea (see, e.g. Simpson 1945, Fraser and Purves 1960). Alternative classifications have placed Physeterinae and Kogiinae in the one family Physeteridae (e.g. Simpson 1945, Luo and Marsh 1996, Kazar 2002). Some systematists also include the Ziphiidae (below) in the Physeteroidea.
Physeteroids differ from the other odontocetes by having a very large dorsal supracranial basin (e.g. Raven and Gregory 1933) which holds the highly modified melon and/or spermaceti organ; facial soft tissues vary in detail between Kogia and Physeter (see e.g. Heyning 1989a, Cranford et al. 1996, Clarke 2003). Diagnostic bony features for the crown-Physeteroidea include: extreme left-skew cranial asymmetry involving the external nares and mesethmoid, with enlarged left naris and reduced right naris; nasal bones are reduced or absent; marked asymmetry of premaxillary sac fossae and foramina with reduction in structures on the left side; antorbital notch is a deep slit; bony supracranial basin is formed by crests involving maxillae and bones that normally form the post-narial vertex in other odontocetes; lacrimo-jugal is robust and enlarged; pterygoid sinus is greatly enlarged but lacks anterior or orbital extensions, with only the dorsal bony lamina well developed; falciform process is absent; posterior process of tympanic bulla is enlarged; foramen ovale lies in an extreme anterior position; dentition homodont; centra of the thoracic vertebrae are not anteroposteriorly compressed; humerus retains a relatively large deltopectoral crest; proximal end of ulna has a radial facet on its anterior border (see e.g. Flower 1868, Kellogg 1928, Fraser and Purves 1960, Muizon 1991, Kazar 2002). Detailed study is needed to confirm which are physeteroid synapomorphies.