PBDB Taxon

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Cetacea (whale)

Mammalia - Cetacea

Taxonomy

Cetacea was named by Brisson (1762). It is extant.

It was reranked as the class Cetaceae by Gray (1821); it was reranked as the unranked clade Cetacea by Ameghino (1889), Geisler and Sanders (2003), Agnarsson and May-Collado (2008), Spaulding et al. (2009), Asher and Helgen (2010), Berta (2017), Bisconti and Bosselaers (2020); it was synonymized subjectively with Cete by Hay (1902); it was corrected as Cetacei by Jaekel (1911); it was reranked as the suborder Cetacea by McKenna and Bell (1997), Hulbert and Whitmore (2006), Canto et al. (2010); it was reranked as the class Cetacea by Godfrey et al. (2017); it was reranked as the infraorder Cetacea by Jefferson et al. (2024).

It was assigned to Vertebrosa by Gray (1821); to Monodelphia by Pictet (1853); to Homalodonta by Ameghino (1889); to Mutilata by Cope (1889); to Eutheria by Flower and Lydekker (1891); to Eutheria by Parker and Haswell (1897); to Holotheria by Jaekel (1911); to Mutica by Simpson (1945), Harland et al. (1967); to Cete by McKenna (1975); to Eutheria by Flower (1883), Gadow (1898), Gregory (1910), Carroll (1988), Nowak (1991); to Cetruminantia by Ursing et al. (2000); to Cetaceamorpha by Spaulding et al. (2009); to Cete by McKenna and Bell (1997), Archibald (1998), Hulbert and Whitmore (2006), Hampe (2006), Canto et al. (2010); to Cetancodonta by Arnason et al. (2004), Agnarsson and May-Collado (2008), Boisserie et al. (2011); to Mammalia by Bronn (1853), Leidy (1873), Cope (1875), Case (1904), Andrews (1906), Abel (1919), Zittel (1925), Hershkovitz (1966), Barnes (1978), Baird and Horner (1979), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Whitmore (1984), Barnes (1985), Bianucci (1997), Thewissen and Hussain (1998), Sepkoski (2002), Wilson and Reeder (2005), Cahuzac et al. (2005), Bisconti and Varola (2006), Gingerich (2007), Bisconti (2007), Gingerich et al. (2009), Boessenecker and Fordyce (2015); to Artiodactyla by Godfrey et al. (2017); to Cetartiodactyla by Montgelard et al. (1997), Thewissen et al. (2001), Geisler and Sanders (2003), Uhen (2004), Bisconti (2008), Jefferson and Rosenbaum (2014), Berta (2017), Bisconti and Bosselaers (2020); to Whippomorpha by Waddell et al. (1999), Boisserie et al. (2005), Asher and Helgen (2010), Uhen et al. (2011), Prothero et al. (2021); and to Artiodactyla by Jefferson et al. (2024).

Year	Name and author
1762	Cetacea Brisson p. 218
1804	Anarnak Lacépède p. 163
1804	Anarnak groenlandicus Lacépède p. 164
1806	Ananarcus Dumeril
1806	Anarcus Froriep
1811	Anarnak Illiger p. 142
1814	Oxypterus Rafinesque
1814	Oxypterus mongitori Rafinesque
1821	Carnivorae Gray p. 309
1821	Cetaceae Gray p. 309
1821	Anarnacus Gray p. 310
1829	Delphinus mongitori Fischer p. 509
1840	Ziphius priscus Eichwald
1842	Cetotherium priscum Brandt p. 146
1842	Manatus giganteus De Kay p. 123
1842	Manatus giganteus DeKay p. 123
1843	Cetotherium priscum Brandt p. 148
1846	Anarnacus Gray p. 29
1853	Cetacea Bronn p. 754
1853	Cetotherium priscum Bronn p. 756
1853	Cetacea Pictet p. 380
1860	Choneziphius priscus Eichwald p. 399
1860	Cetotherium priscum Nordmann p. 330
1864	Canis primigenius Lankester p. 358 figs. Fig. 11
1865	Palaeocetus Seeley p. 54
1865	Palaeocetus sedgwicki Seeley p. 54 figs. Plate 3
1865	Palaeocetus Seeley p. 57
1866	Palaeocetus Gray p. 106
1866	Palaeocetus sedgwickii Gray p. 106
1866	Palaeobalaena Seeley p. 228
1866	Palaeobalaena sedgwicki Seeley p. 228
1871	Palaeocetus Gervais p. 136
1871	Palaeocetus sedgwickii Gervais p. 136
1871	Anarnacus Gill p. 126
1871	Palaeocetus Gill p. 126
1872	Cetotherium priscum Brandt p. 261
1872	Otaria leclercii Delfortrie
1872	Anarnacus Gill p. 96
1873	Palaeocetus Brandt p. 25
1873	Cetotherium priscum Brandt p. 101
1873	Cetotheriomorphus dubius Brandt pp. 161-162 figs. Plate 23, Figs. 4-8
1873	Cetacea Leidy p. 337
1874	Squalodon hypsispondylus Brandt p. 42
1875	Cetacea Cope p. 42
1875	Halicore maximovitschii Rogovich p. 37
1879	Cetotolites McCoy p. 13
1879	Cetotolites leggei McCoy p. 14
1879	Cetotolites nelsoni McCoy p. 14 figs. Plate LIV, Figs. 3-5
1879	Cetotolites pricei McCoy p. 14 figs. Plate LIV, Fig. 2
1879	Cetotolites nelsoni rugosa McCoy p. 17
1882	Ziphius (Dolichodon) geelongensis McCoy
1883	Cetacea Flower p. 184
1883	Cetotolites baileyi McCoy
1886	Berardiopsis pliocaenus Portis p. 326 figs. Fig. 95-96
1887	Palaeocetus Lydekker p. 30
1887	Palaeocetus sedgwickii Lydekker p. 31
1889	Cetacea Ameghino p. 653
1889	Cetacea Cope p. 874
1890	Anarnacus Cope p. 607
1890	Palaeocetus Cope p. 612
1891	Cetacea Flower and Lydekker p. 89
1897	Cetacea Parker and Haswell p. 450
1898	Cetacea Gadow p. 44
1898	Mesotaria leclercii Trouessart p. 378
1898	Manatus giganteus Trouessart p. 1000
1898	Squalodon hypsispondylus Trouessart p. 1014
1898	Berardiopsis pliocaenus Trouessart p. 1068
1898	Cetotherium priscum Trouessart p. 1071
1898	Palaeocetus sedgwicki Trouessart p. 1088
1898	Palaeocetus Trouessart p. 1089
1899	Berardiopsis miocaenus Koch p. 153 figs. Fig. 1-2
1901	Globicephalus eocaenus Ameghino p. 80
1904	Cetacea Case p. 3
1904	Trichechus giganteus Case p. 56
1904	Anarnak Palmer p. 100
1904	Anarnak groenlandicus Palmer p. 100
1904	Palaeocetus Palmer p. 499
1904	Mesotaria leclerci Trouessart p. 282
1904	Trichechus giganteus Trouessart p. 748
1904	Squalodon hypsispondylus Trouessart p. 755
1904	Berardiopsis pliocaenus Trouessart p. 778
1904	Cetotherium priscum Trouessart p. 779
1904	Palaeocetus Trouessart p. 786
1904	Palaeocetus sedgwicki Trouessart p. 786
1906	Cetacea Andrews p. 234
1906	Plesiocetus priscus Joleaud p. 380
1910	Cetacea Gregory p. 466
1911	Cetacei Jaekel p. 230
1919	Cetacea Abel p. 749
1923	Squalodon hypsispondylus Kellogg
1925	Cetacea Zittel p. 80
1928	Palaeocetus Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1930	Trichechus giganteus Hay p. 658
1933	Cetotherium priscum Nicolaescu p. 85
1937	Cetotherium priscum Pia p. 59
1944	Cetotherium priscum Macarovici p. 136
1945	Cetacea Simpson p. 100
1945	Palaeocetus Simpson p. 105
1947	Mesotaria leclercii Friant p. 5
1966	Cetacea Hershkovitz p. 6
1967	Cetacea Harland et al. p. 774
1975	Cetacea McKenna p. 43
1978	Cetacea Barnes p. 3
1979	Cetacea Baird and Horner p. 19
1981	Cetacea Thurmond and Jones p. 191
1984	Cetacea Whitmore p. 230
1985	Cetacea Barnes p. 3
1986	Palaeocetus Deméré p. 289
1986	Palaeocetus sedgwicki Deméré p. 289
1987	Berardiopsis pliocaenus Pilleri p. 93
1988	Cetacea Carroll
1988	Palaeocetus Carroll
1991	Cetacea Nowak
1997	Cetacea Bianucci p. 164
1997	Cetacea McKenna and Bell p. 368
1997	Palaeocetus McKenna and Bell p. 378
1997	Cetacea Montgelard et al. p. 555
1998	Cetacea Archibald
1998	Cetacea Thewissen and Hussain p. 221
1999	Cetacea Waddell et al. p. 2
2000	Cetacea Ursing et al.
2001	Cetacea Thewissen et al. p. suppl.
2002	Cetacea Sepkoski
2002	Palaeocetus Sepkoski
2003	Cetacea Geisler and Sanders p. 27
2004	Cetacea Arnason et al. p. 33
2004	Cetacea Uhen p. 11
2005	Cetacea Boisserie et al.
2005	Cetacea Cahuzac et al. p. 420
2005	Cetacea Wilson and Reeder
2006	Cetacea Bisconti and Varola p. 449
2006	Cetacea Hampe p. 64
2006	Cetacea Hulbert and Whitmore p. 19
2007	Cetacea Bisconti p. 89
2007	Cetacea Gingerich p. 366
2008	Cetacea Agnarsson and May-Collado p. 981 figs. Fig. 2
2008	Cetacea Bisconti p. 162
2009	Cetacea Gingerich et al. p. 3
2009	Cetacea Spaulding et al.
2010	Cetacea Asher and Helgen p. 3 figs. Figure 1
2010	Cetacea Canto et al. p. 20
2011	Cetacea Boisserie et al. p. 620 figs. Table 1
2011	Cetacea Uhen et al. p. 957
2014	Cetacea Jefferson and Rosenbaum
2015	Cetacea Boessenecker and Fordyce
2017	Cetacea Berta p. 158
2017	Palaeocetus Berta p. 168
2017	Cetacea Godfrey et al.
2020	Cetacea Bisconti and Bosselaers p. 8
2021	Cetacea Prothero et al.
2024	Cetacea Jefferson et al. p. 24

Or. Cetacea Brisson 1762 [whale]

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Fm. †Ambulocetidae Thewissen et al. 1996

G. †Ambulocetus Thewissen et al. 1994

†Ambulocetus natans Thewissen et al. 1994

G. †Gandakasia Dehm and Oettingen-Spielberg 1958

†Gandakasia potens Dehm and Oettingen-Spielberg 1958

Subor. Anodontocete Scott 1873

Invalid names: Agaphelidae Gray 1870 [empty]

Unr. †Archaeoceti Flower 1883

Invalid names: Basilosauroidea Mitchell 1989 [empty], Hydrothereuta Ameghino 1889 [objective synonym], Zeuglodonta Ameghino 1889 [synonym], Zeuglodontia Pictet 1853 [synonym]

G. †Archaeocetus Sinzow 1898

G. †Loncodelphis Allen 1924

G. †Nanisocetus Kellogg 1929

Subor. Odontocetoidea Brandt 1874

Unr. †Diaphorodontina Brandt 1874

Invalid names: Gymnorhinidae Brandt 1874 [empty]

Unr. Homoeodontina Brandt 1874

Invalid names: Hypognathodontidae Brandt 1874 [empty]

Fm. †Pakicetidae Thewissen et al. 1996

G. †Himalayacetus Bajpai and Gingerich 1998

†Himalayacetus subathuensis Bajpai and Gingerich 1998

G. †Ichthyolestes Dehm and Oettingen-Spielberg 1958

†Ichthyolestes pinfoldi Dehm and Oettingen-Spielberg 1958

G. †Nalacetus Thewissen and Hussain 1998

†Nalacetus ratimitus Thewissen and Hussain 1998

G. †Pakicetus Gingerich and Russell 1981

†Pakicetus attocki West 1980

†Pakicetus calcis Cooper et al. 2009

†Pakicetus chittas Cooper et al. 2009

†Pakicetus inachus Gingerich and Russell 1981

Unr. Pelagiceti Uhen 2008

Fm. †Basilosauridae Cope 1867

G. †Ancalecetus Gingerich and Uhen 1996

†Ancalecetus simonsi Gingerich and Uhen 1996

Subfm. †Basilosaurinae Miller 1923

Invalid names: Zeuglodontinae Slijper 1936 [synonym]

G. †Basilosaurus Harlan 1834

†Basilosaurus cetoides Owen 1839

Invalid names: Alabamornis gigantea Abel 1906 [synonym], Hydrarchos sillimani Wyman 1845 [synonym], Hydrargos sillimanii Koch 1845 [synonym], Zeuglodon ceti Wyman 1845 [synonym], Zeuglodon harlani De Kay 1842 [synonym], Zeuglodon macrospondylus Müller 1849 [synonym]

†Basilosaurus isis Andrews 1904

Invalid names: Alabamornis Abel 1906 [synonym], Basilosaurus puschi Brandt 1873 [nomen dubium], Hydrarchos Koch 1845 [synonym], Hydrarchus Muller 1849 [synonym], Hydrargos Koch 1845 [synonym], Zeuglodon Owen 1839 [objective synonym], Zugodon Scudder 1882 [synonym], Zygodon Owen 1839 [synonym]

G. †Basiloterus Gingerich et al. 1997

†Basiloterus hussaini Gingerich et al. 1997

G. †Chrysocetus Uhen and Gingerich 2001

†Chrysocetus fouadassii Gingerich and Zouhri 2015

†Chrysocetus healyorum Uhen and Gingerich 2001

G. †Cynthiacetus Uhen 2005

†Cynthiacetus maxwelli Uhen 2005

†Cynthiacetus peruvianus Martinez-Cáceres and Muizon 2011

G. †Dorudon Gibbes 1845

†Dorudon atrox Andrews 1906

Invalid names: Dorudon intermedius Dart 1923 [synonym], Dorudon stromeri Kellogg 1928 [synonym]

†Dorudon serratus Gibbes 1845

Invalid names: Prozeuglodon Andrews 1906 [synonym]

G. †Masracetus Gingerich 2007

†Masracetus markgrafi Gingerich 2007

G. †Ocucajea Uhen et al. 2011

†Ocucajea picklingi Uhen et al. 2011

Subfm. †Pachycetinae Gingerich et al. 2022

G. †Antaecetus Gingerich et al. 2022

†Platyosphys aithai Gingerich and Zouhri 2015

G. †Pachycetus Van Beneden 1883

†Pachycetus paulsonii Brandt 1873

Invalid names: Basilotritus uheni Goldin and Zvonok 2013 [synonym], Pachycetus robustus Van Beneden 1883 [synonym], Platyosphys einori Gritsenko 2001 [synonym], Zeuglodon rossicus Paulson in Brandt 1873 [synonym]

†Pachycetus wardii Uhen 1999

Invalid names: Basilotritus Goldin and Zvonok 2013 [synonym], Platyosphys Kellogg 1936 [synonym]

G. †Perucetus Bianucci et al. 2023

†Perucetus colossus Bianucci et al. 2023

G. †Saghacetus Gingerich 1992

†Saghacetus osiris Dames 1894

Invalid names: Dorudon elliotsmithii Dart 1923 [synonym], Dorudon sensitivus Dart 1923 [synonym], Dorudon zitteli Stromer 1903 [synonym]

G. †Stromerius Gingerich 2007

†Stromerius nidensis Gingerich 2007

G. †Supayacetus Uhen et al. 2011

†Supayacetus muizoni Uhen et al. 2011

G. †Tutcetus Antar et al. 2023

†Tutcetus rayanensis Antar et al. 2023

G. †Zygorhiza True 1908

†Zygorhiza kochii Carus 1847

Invalid names: Zeuglodon brachyspondylum Abel 1914 [synonym], Zeuglodon hydrarchus Carus 1849 [synonym], Zygorhiza brachyspondylus True 1908 [synonym], Zygorhiza minor True 1908 [synonym]

Invalid names: Balaenoptera juddi Seeley 1881 [nomen dubium], Dorudontinae Miller 1923 [invalid subgroup], Hydrarchidae Bonaparte 1850 [synonym], Hydrarchina Bonaparte 1850 [synonym], Pachycetus humilis Van Beneden 1883 [invalid subgroup], Pontogeneus Leidy 1852 [nomen dubium], Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Müller 1849 [nomen dubium], Prozeuglodontidae Moustafa 1954 [synonym], Stegorhinidae Brandt 1873 [synonym], Stromeriinae Gingerich 2007 [empty], Sulaimanitherium Malkani et al. 2013 [nomen dubium], Zeuglodontidae Bonaparte 1849 [synonym]

Unr. †Kekenodontidae Mitchell 1989

G. †Kekenodon Hector 1881

†Kekenodon onamata Hector 1881

G. †Tohoraonepu Corrie and Fordyce 2024

†Tohoraonepu nihokaiwaiu Corrie and Fordyce 2024

Invalid names: Squalodon gambierensis Glaessner 1955 [invalid subgroup]

Unr. Neoceti Fordyce and de Muizon 2001

G. †Microzeuglodon Stromer 1903

†Microzeuglodon caucasicum Lydekker 1892

Subor. Mysticeti Cope 1891

Fm. †Aetiocetidae Emlong 1966

G. †Aetiocetus Emlong 1966

G. †Ashorocetus Barnes et al. 1995

G. †Chonecetus Russell 1968

Invalid names: Morawanocetus Barnes et al. 1995 [synonym]

G. †Fucaia Marx et al. 2015

G. †Kaaucetus Hernández-Cisneros 2022

G. †Salishicetus Peredo and Pyenson 2018

G. †Tohoraata Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015

G. †Willungacetus Pledge 2005

Invalid names: Aetiocetinae Barnes et al. 1995 [empty], Chonecetinae Barnes et al. 1995 [empty], Morawanocetinae Barnes et al. 1995 [empty]

Superfm. †Aetiocetoidea Sanders and Barnes 2002

G. †Niparajacetus Solis-Añorve et al. 2019

G. †Borealodon Shipps et al. 2019

†Borealodon osedax Shipps et al. 2019

Unr. Chaeomysticeti Mitchell 1989

Unr. Balaenomorpha Geisler and Sanders 2003

Subfm. Cetotheriidae Brandt 1872

G. †Cetotheriopsis Brandt 1871

Invalid names: Aulocetus Van Beneden 1875 [objective synonym], Stenodon Van Beneden 1865 [replaced]

Fm. †Eomysticetidae Sanders and Barnes 2002

G. †Halicetus Kellogg 1969

G. †Jobancetus Kimura et al. 2022

G. †Piscocetus Pilleri and Pilleri 1989

Unr. Plicogulae Geisler et al. 2011

G. †Sitsqwayk Peredo and Uhen 2016

G. †Tlaxcallicetus Cisneros 2018

Invalid names: Cetotheriopsidae Brandt 1872 [empty], Cetotherium incertum Brandt 1873 [nomen dubium], Cetotherium klinderi Brandt 1871 [invalid subgroup], Cetotherium pusillum Nordmann 1860 [invalid subgroup], Eomysticetoidea Sanders and Barnes 2002 [empty], Megapteropsis Van Beneden 1872 [nomen dubium]

Fm. †Coronodonidae Boessenecker et al. 2023

G. †Coronodon Geisler et al. 2017

G. †Horopeta Tsai and Fordyce 2015

†Horopeta umarere Tsai and Fordyce 2015

Fm. †Llanocetidae Mitchell 1989

G. †Llanocetus Mitchell 1989

G. †Maiabalaena Peredo et al. 2018

†Maiabalaena nesbittae Peredo et al. 2018

Fm. †Mammalodontidae Mitchell 1989

G. †Janjucetus Fitzgerald 2006

G. †Mammalodon Pritchard 1939

Invalid names: Janjucetidae Fitzgerald 2006 [synonym]

G. †Metasqualodon Hall 1911

†Metasqualodon symmetricus Okazaki 1982

Fm. †Mystacodontidae Lambert et al. 2017

G. †Mystacodon Lambert et al. 2017

G. †Toipahautea Tsai and Fordyce 2018

†Toipahautea waitaki Tsai and Fordyce 2018

G. †Whakakai Tsai and Fordyce 2016

†Whakakai waipata Tsai and Fordyce 2016

Invalid names: Amphitera Gigoli 1870 [nomen dubium], Aulocetus calaritanus Capellini 1899 [invalid subgroup], Aulocetus lovisati Capellini 1899 [invalid subgroup], Balaena cortesii Fischer 1829 [invalid subgroup], Balaena simpsoni Phillipi 1887 [nomen nudum], Burtinopsis Van Beneden 1872 [nomen dubium], Cetotheriomorphus Brandt 1873 [nomen dubium], Crenaticeti Mitchell 1989 [invalid subgroup], Eschrichtioidea Mitchell 1989 [empty], Eschrichtius expansus Cope 1868 [nomen dubium], Eschrichtius leptocentrus Cope 1867 [nomen dubium], Eschrichtius pusillus Cope 1868 [nomen vanum], Kinetomenta Gatesy et al. 2022 [empty], Mauicetus brevicollis Marples 1956 [invalid subgroup], Mesoteras Cope 1870 [nomen dubium], Mesoteras kerrianus Cope 1870 [nomen dubium], Mioceta Deraniyagala 1967 [nomen dubium], Mystacoceti Flower 1867 [synonym], Mysticete Gray 1864 [synonym], Plesiocetus Van Beneden 1859 [nomen dubium], Probalaena Du Bus 1867 [nomen dubium], Pterobalaenidae Gray 1870 [empty], Rhegnopsis Cope 1896 [nomen dubium], Siphonocetus Cope 1895 [nomen dubium], Squalodon serratus Davis 1888 [invalid subgroup], Tretulias Cope 1895 [nomen dubium], Tretulias buccatus Cope 1895 [nomen dubium], Ulias Cope 1895 [nomen dubium]

Subor. Odontoceti Flower 1867 [toothed whale]

Fm. †Acrodelphinidae Abel 1905

Invalid names: Acrodelphinae Abel 1905 [empty]

Unr. Amblyoccipita Boessenecker and Geisler 2023

Fm. Simocetidae Fordyce 2002

Unr. Stegoceti Boessenecker and Geisler 2023

G. †Argyrocetus Lydekker 1894

†Argyrocetus bakersfieldensis Wilson 1935

†Argyrocetus joaquinensis Kellogg 1932

Invalid names: Doliodelphis littlei Wilson 1935 [synonym], Eurhinodelphis extensus Wilson 1935 [synonym]

†Argyrocetus patagonicus Lydekker 1894

Invalid names: Doliodelphis Wilson 1935 [synonym]

G. †Atropatenocetus Aslanova 1977

†Atropatenocetus posteocenicus Aslanova 1977

G. †Aureia Meekin et al. 2024

†Aureia rerehua Meekin et al. 2024

G. †Caolodelphis Godfrey and Lambert 2023

†Caolodelphis milleri Godfrey and Lambert 2023

Fm. Champsodelphinidae Rice 1998

Invalid names: Champsodelphidae Scott 1873 [replaced]

G. †Chilcacetus Lambert et al. 2015

†Chilcacetus cavirhinus Lambert et al. 2015

Infraor. Delphinida Muizon 1984

G. †Anacharsis Bogachev 1956

G. †Atocetus Muizon 1988

G. †Brevirostrodelphis Godfrey and Lambert 2023

G. †Cammackacetus Godfrey and Lambert 2023

G. †Delphinavus Lull 1914

Superfm. Delphinoidea Flower 1865

G. †Hadrodelphis Kellogg 1966

G. †Herbeinodelphis Godfrey and Lambert 2023

Superfm. Inioidea de Muizon 1988

Fm. †Kentriodontidae Slijper 1936

Superfm. †Kentriodontoidea Slijper 1936

G. †Liolithax Kellogg 1931

Fm. Lipotidae Zhou et al. 1978

G. †Macrokentriodon Dawson 1996

G. †Miminiacetus Godfrey and Lambert 2023

G. †Miodelphis Wilson 1935

G. †Pictodelphis Godfrey and Lambert 2023

G. †Pithanodelphis Abel 1905

G. †Platylithax Kellogg 1931

G. †Tagicetus Lambert et al. 2005

G. †Westmorelandelphis Godfrey and Lambert 2023

Invalid names: Lipotoidea de Muizon 1988 [empty], Monodontoidae Geisler et al. 2011 [empty]

G. †Ediscetus Albright et al. 2018

†Ediscetus osbornei Albright et al. 2018

G. †Enigmatocetus Godfrey and Lambert 2023

†Enigmatocetus posidoni Godfrey and Lambert 2023

Infraor. †Eurhinodelphinida Fordyce and de Muizon 2001

Superfm. †Eurhinodelphinoidea Muizon 1988

Fm. †Eurhinodelphinidae Abel 1901

G. †Ceterhinops Leidy 1877

G. †Eurhinodelphis Van Beneden and Gervais 1880

G. †Iniopsis Lydekker 1892

G. †Mycteriacetus Lambert 2004

G. †Phocaenopsis Huxley 1859

G. †Schizodelphis Gervais 1861

Invalid names: Cyrtodelphis Abel 1900 [objective synonym]

G. †Vanbreenia Bianucci and Landini 2002

G. †Xiphiacetus Lambert 2005

G. †Ziphiodelphis Dal Piaz 1908

Invalid names: Eurhinodelphis salentinus Moncharmont Zei 1950 [nomen dubium], Rhabdosteidae Gill 1871 [synonym]

G. †Graamocetus Hoch 2004

†Graamocetus longicollis Hoch 2004

Fm. †Inticetidae Lambert et al. 2017

G. †Inticetus Lambert et al. 2017

G. †Kharthlidelphis Mchedlidze and Pilleri 1988

Invalid names: Kharthlidelphis diceros Mchedlidze and Pilleri 1988 [nomen dubium]

G. †Macrodelphinus Wilson 1935

†Macrodelphinus kelloggi Wilson 1935

†Macrodelphinus valenciennesii Brandt 1873

G. †Microcetus Kellogg 1923

†Microcetus ambiguus Meyer 1840

†Microcetus sharkovi Dubrovo and Sharkov 1971

G. †Nannolithax Kellogg 1931

†Nannolithax gracilis Kellogg 1931

G. †Neosqualodon Dal Piaz 1904

†Neosqualodon assenzae Dal Piaz 1904

†Neosqualodon gastaldii Brandt 1873

Invalid names: Microsqualodon Abel 1905 [synonym], Squalodon dalpiazi Fabiani 1949 [nomen dubium]

G. †Oedolithax Kellogg 1931

†Oedolithax mira Kellogg 1931

G. †Oligodelphis Aslanova and Mchedlidze 1976

†Oligodelphis azerbajdzanicus Aslanova and Mchedlidze 1976

Fm. †Patriocetidae Abel 1914

G. †Patriocetus Abel 1914

G. †Phoberodon Cabrera 1926

†Phoberodon arctirostris Cabrera 1926

G. †Phococetus Gervais 1876

†Phococetus vasconum Delfortrie 1873

Superfm. Physeteroidea Gray 1868

G. †Acrophyseter Lambert et al. 2008

G. †Albicetus Boersma and Pyenson 2015

G. †Angelocetus Peri et al. 2022

G. †Brygmophyseter Kimura et al. 2006

Invalid names: Naganocetus Bianucci and Landini 2006 [replaced]

G. †Cozzuoliphyseter Paolucci et al. 2021

G. †Eudelphis Du Bus 1872

G. †Ferecetotherium Mchedlidze 1970

G. †Hoplocetus Gervais 1852

Fm. Kogiidae Miller 1923 [pygmy sperm whale]

G. †Livyatan Lambert et al. 2010

Invalid names: Leviathan Lambert et al. 2010 [replaced]

G. †Miophyseter Kimura and Hasegawa 2022

Fm. Physeteridae Gray 1821 [sperm whale]

Invalid names: Catodontidae Cuvier 1836 [synonym], Physeterina Gray 1825 [synonym]

G. †Preaulophyseter Caviglia and Jorge 1980

G. †Rhaphicetus Lambert 2020

G. †Scaldicetus Du Bus 1867

Invalid names: Eucetus Du Bus 1867 [synonym], Palaeodelphis Du Bus 1872 [synonym], Physodon Gervais 1872 [synonym]

G. †Zygophyseter Bianucci and Landini 2006

Invalid names: Physeterida Muizon 1988 [empty]

Unr. †Platanidelphidi Bianucci et al. 2020

G. †Ensidelphis Bianucci et al. 2020

Superfm. Platanistoidea Simpson 1945

Fm. †Allodelphinidae Barnes 2006

G. †Aondelphis Viglino et al. 2018

G. †Awamokoa Tanaka and Fordyce 2016

Fm. †Dalpiazinidae Muizon 1988

G. †Dolgopolis Viglino et al. 2021

G. †Perditicetus Nelson and Uhen 2020

Fm. †Squalodelphinidae Dal Piaz 1917

G. †Urkudelphis Tanaka et al. 2017

Fm. †Waipatiidae Fordyce 1994

Invalid names: Prosqualodontidae Fordyce and de Muizon 2001 [empty]

G. †Proinia True 1909

†Proinia patagonica True 1909

G. †Prosqualodon Lydekker 1894

†Prosqualodon australis Lydekker 1894

Invalid names: Prosqualodon davidis Flynn 1923 [synonym]

Invalid names: Postsqualodon Stromer 1908 [synonym]

G. †Rhabodosteus Cope 1867

G. †Romaleodelphis Sanchez-Posada et al. 2024

†Romaleodelphis pollerspoecki Sanchez-Posada et al. 2024

G. †Sachalinocetus Siryk and Dubrovo 1970

†Sachalinocetus cholmicus Siryk and Dubrovo 1970

Fm. †Squalodontidae Brandt 1873

G. †Austrosqualodon Climo and Baker 1972

G. †Eosqualodon Rothausen 1968

G. †Squalodon Grateloup 1840

Invalid names: Arionius Meyer 1841 [synonym], Crenidelphinus Laurillard 1844 [synonym], Delphinoides Pedroni 1845 [synonym], Kelloggia Mchedlidze 1976 [synonym], Macrophoca Leidy 1856 [synonym], Phocodon Agassiz 1841 [synonym], Rhizoprion Jourdan 1861 [synonym], Rhytisodon Costa 1852 [synonym], Smilocomptus Gervais 1849 [synonym], Trirhizodon Cope 1890 [synonym]

G. †Tangaroasaurus Benham 1935

Invalid names: Austrosqualodon trirhizodonta Climo and Baker 1972 [nomen dubium], Mesoceti Dames 1894 [synonym], Pachyodon Meyer 1838 [nomen dubium], Portheodon Gill 1872 [nomen nudum], Squalodon andrewi Benham 1942 [invalid subgroup], Squalodon atlanticus Leidy 1856 [invalid subgroup], Squalodon bordae Gervais 1852 [nomen dubium], Squalodon catulli Molin 1859 [nomen dubium], Squalodon melitensis Blainville 1840 [nomen dubium], Squalodontinae Rothausen 1968 [empty], Tangaroasaurus kakanuiensis Benham 1935 [nomen dubium], Zeuglodon vredense Landois 1844 [nomen nudum]

G. †Sulakocetus Mchedlidze 1976

†Sulakocetus dagestanicus Mchedlidze 1976

Fm. †Xenorophidae Uhen 2008

G. †Albertocetus Uhen 2008

G. †Archaeodelphis Allen 1921

G. †Ashleycetus Sanders and Geisler 2015

G. †Cotylocara Geisler et al. 2014

G. †Echovenator Churchill et al. 2016

G. †Inermorostrum Boessenecker et al. 2017

G. †Mirocetus Mchedlidze 1970

G. †Xenorophus Kellogg 1923

Superfm. Ziphioidea Gray 1850

Tr. Epiodontidae Gray 1865

Invalid names: Agorophioidea Gingerich 2005 [empty], Agriocetus Abel 1914 [nomen dubium], Ashleycetidae Sanders and Geisler 2015 [empty], Balaenodon Owen 1846 [nomen dubium], Belosphys Cope 1875 [nomen dubium], Berardiopsis Portis 1886 [nomen dubium], Cetophis Cope 1868 [nomen dubium], Champsodelphis Gervais 1852 [nomen dubium], Champsodelphis italicus Portis 1886 [nomen dubium], Colophonodon Leidy 1853 [nomen dubium], Delphinapterus orcinus Cope 1875 [nomen dubium], Delphinoceti Abel 1914 [empty], Delphinodon mento Cope 1867 [invalid subgroup], Delphinopsis Muller 1853 [nomen dubium], Delphinorhynchus Blainville 1817 [nomen dubium], Delphinus domeykoi Phillipi 1887 [nomen nudum], Delphinus restitutensis Depéret 1887 [nomen dubium], Delphinus vanzelleri Fourtau 1918 [nomen dubium], Denticete Gray 1864 [synonym], Dinoziphius Van Beneden and Gervais 1868 [nomen dubium], Eurhinodelphis minoensis Okazaki 1976 [nomen dubium], Eurhinodelphis sassariensis Capellini 1887 [nomen dubium], Graphiodon Leidy 1870 [nomen dubium], Helvicetus Pilleri 1986 [nomen dubium], Helvicetus rugosus Pilleri 1986 [nomen dubium], Hesperocetus True 1912 [nomen dubium], Hesperoinia Monchamart Zei 1956 [nomen dubium], Homaeocetus Du Bus 1867 [nomen dubium], Homocetus villersii Du Bus 1867 [nomen dubium], Hyperoodontoidea Moore 1968 [empty], Ixacanthus Cope 1868 [nomen dubium], Lonchodelphis Allen 1924 [nomen dubium], Macrochirifer Brandt 1874 [nomen dubium], Mesoplodontidae Scott 1873 [empty], Miokogia Pilleri 1986 [nomen dubium], Miotursiops Deraniyagala 1969 [nomen dubium], Mirocetidae Sanders and Geisler 2015 [empty], Monodontoidea Fraser and Purves 1960 [empty], Odontoceta Ameghino 1889 [synonym], Oligosqualodon Rothausen 1970 [nomen dubium], Palaeoziphius Abel 1905 [nomen dubium], Pandelphinida May-Collado et al. 2007 [empty], Panphyseteroidea Velez-Juarbe et al. 2015 [empty], Parapontoporiidae Barnes 1984 [empty], Parasqualodon Hall 1911 [nomen dubium], Pelodelphis Kellogg 1955 [nomen dubium], Phoca debilis Leidy 1857 [nomen dubium], Phoca rugosidens Adams 1879 [nomen dubium], Physetodon McCoy 1879 [nomen dubium], Platanistida Fordyce and de Muizon 2001 [empty], Platydelphis Du Bus 1872 [nomen dubium], Pontivaga Ameghino 1891 [nomen dubium], Priscodelphinus Leidy 1851 [nomen dubium], Priscodelphinus teres Du Bus 1872 [nomen nudum], Priscophyseter Portis 1886 [nomen dubium], Priscophyseter typus Portis 1886 [nomen dubium], Prolipotes Zhou et al. 1984 [nomen dubium], Prophyseter Abel 1905 [nomen dubium], Prosqualodon hamiltoni Benham 1937 [invalid subgroup], Proterocetus Ameghino 1899 [nomen dubium], Rhabdosteoidea Gill 1872 [empty], Rhabdosteus Cope 1867 [nomen dubium], Saurocetus Agassiz 1848 [nomen dubium], Saurocetus gibbesii Agassiz 1848 [invalid subgroup], Scaptodon Chapman 1918 [nomen dubium], Scaptodon lodderi Chapman 1918 [nomen dubium], Squaloceti Abel 1914 [empty], Squalodelphis pusillus Ginsburg and Janvier 1971 [nomen dubium], Squalodon (Microzeuglodon) wingei Ravn 1926 [nomen dubium], Squalodon crassus Allen 1926 [nomen dubium], Squalodon imperator Cigala-Fulgosi and Pilleri 1985 [nomen dubium], Squalodon linzianus Brandt 1871 [nomen nudum], Squalodon molassicus Bronn 1837 [nomen dubium], Squalodon pelagius Leidy 1869 [nomen dubium], Squalodon vocontiorum Delfortrie 1874 [nomen dubium], Squalodon wymanii Cope 1867 [invalid subgroup], Squalodontoidea Simpson 1945 [empty], Stereodelphis Gervais 1852 [nomen dubium], Synrhina Geisler et al. 2011 [empty], Tretosphys Cope 1868 [nomen dubium], Tretosphys uraeus Cope 1869 [nomen dubium], Uncamentodon Rothausen 1970 [nomen nudum], Zignodelphinidae Pilleri 1989 [empty]

Invalid names: Autoceta Haeckel 1866 [synonym]

Invalid names: Metasqualodon harwoodi Sanger 1881 [invalid subgroup]

Fm. †Protocetidae Stromer 1908

G. †Aegyptocetus Bianucci and Gingerich 2011

†Aegyptocetus tarfa Bianucci and Gingerich 2011

G. †Artiocetus Gingerich et al. 2001

†Artiocetus clavis Gingerich et al. 2001

G. †Babiacetus Trivedy and Satsangi 1984

†Babiacetus indicus Trivedy and Satsangi 1984

†Babiacetus mishrai Bajpai and Thewissen 1998

G. †Carolinacetus Geisler et al. 2005

†Carolinacetus gingerichi Geisler et al. 2005

G. †Crenatocetus McLeod and Barnes 2008

†Crenatocetus rayi McLeod and Barnes 2008

G. †Dhedacetus Bajpai and Thewissen 2014

†Dhedacetus hyaeni Bajpai and Thewissen 2014

G. †Eocetus Fraas 1904

†Eocetus drazindai Gingerich et al. 1997

†Eocetus schweinfurthi Fraas 1904

Invalid names: Mesocetus Fraas 1904 [replaced]

G. †Gaviacetus Gingerich et al. 1995

†Gaviacetus razai Gingerich et al. 1995

Subfm. †Georgiacetinae Gingerich et al. 2005

G. †Aegicetus Gingerich 2019

†Aegicetus gehennae Gingerich 2019

G. †Georgiacetus Hulbert et al. 1998

†Georgiacetus vogtlensis Hulbert et al. 1998

G. †Indocetus Sahni and Mishra 1975

†Indocetus ramani Sahni and Mishra 1975

G. †Kharodacetus Bajpai and Thewissen 2014

†Kharodacetus sahnii Bajpai and Thewissen 1998

G. †Maiacetus Gingerich et al. 2009

†Maiacetus inuus Gingerich et al. 2009

G. †Makaracetus Gingerich et al. 2005

†Makaracetus bidens Gingerich et al. 2005

G. †Natchitochia Uhen 1998

†Natchitochia jonesi Uhen 1998

G. †Pappocetus Andrews 1920

†Pappocetus lugardi Andrews 1920

G. †Peregocetus Lambert et al. 2019

†Peregocetus pacificus Lambert et al. 2019

G. †Phiomicetus Gohar et al. 2021

†Phiomicetus anubis Gohar et al. 2021

G. †Pontobasileus Leidy 1873

†Pontobasileus tuberculatus Leidy 1873

G. †Protocetus Fraas 1904

†Protocetus atavus Fraas 1904

Invalid names: Protocetus atavus Fraas 1904 [valid]

G. †Qaisracetus Gingerich et al. 2001

†Qaisracetus arifi Gingerich et al. 2001

Invalid names: Qaisracetus spinalis Gingerich et al. 2001 [objective synonym]

G. †Rodhocetus Gingerich et al. 1994

†Rodhocetus balochistanensis Gingerich et al. 2001

†Rodhocetus kasranii Gingerich et al. 1994

G. †Takracetus Gingerich et al. 1995

†Takracetus simus Gingerich et al. 1995

G. †Togocetus Gingerich and Cappetta 2014

†Togocetus traversei Gingerich and Cappetta 2014

G. †Tupelocetus Gibson et al. 2019

†Tupelocetus palmeri Gibson et al. 2019

Invalid names: Indocetinae Gingerich et al. 1993 [empty], Makaracetinae Gingerich et al. 2005 [empty], Pappocetinae McLeod and Barnes 2008 [empty], Protocetinae Gingerich and Russell 1990 [empty]

G. †Protocetus Fraas 1904

†Protocetus atavus Fraas 1904

Invalid names: Protocetus atavus Fraas 1904 [valid]

Fm. †Remingtonocetidae Kumar and Sahni 1986

Subfm. †Andrewsiphiinae Thewissen and Bajpai 2009

G. †Andrewsiphius Sahni and Mishra 1975

†Andrewsiphius sloani Sahni and Mishra 1972

Invalid names: Andrewsiphius kutchensis Sahni and Mishra 1975 [synonym]

G. †Kutchicetus Bajpai and Thewissen 2000

†Kutchicetus minimus Bajpai and Thewissen 2000

G. †Rayanistes Bebej et al. 2015

†Rayanistes afer Bebej et al. 2015

Subfm. †Remingtonocetinae Thewissen and Bajpai 2009

G. †Attockicetus Thewissen and Hussain 2000

†Attockicetus praecursor Thewissen and Hussain 2000

G. †Dalanistes Gingerich et al. 1995

†Dalanistes ahmedi Gingerich et al. 1995

G. †Remingtonocetus Kumar and Sahni 1986

†Remingtonocetus domandaensis Gingerich et al. 2001

†Remingtonocetus harudiensis Sahni and Mishra 1975

G. †Tretosphrys Cope 1868

Invalid names: Anarnak Illiger 1811 [nomen dubium], Argyrocetidae Lydekker 1894 [empty], Balaenodea Brandt 1874 [empty], Balaenodontae Bronn 1853 [empty], Balaenoidorum Brandt 1874 [empty], Berardiopsis miocaenus Koch 1899 [nomen dubium], Berardiopsis pliocaenus Portis 1886 [nomen dubium], Canis primigenius Lankester 1864 [nomen dubium], Carnivorae Gray 1821 [synonym], Cetotheriomorphus dubius Brandt 1873 [nomen dubium], Cetotherium priscum Eichwald 1840 [nomen dubium], Cetotolites McCoy 1879 [nomen dubium], Globicephalus eocaenus Ameghino 1901 [nomen nudum], Halicore maximovitschii Rogovich 1875 [nomen nudum], Manatus giganteus DeKay 1842 [nomen dubium], Mystacoceta Ameghino 1889 [empty], Neoballaenidae Miller 1923 [empty], Otaria leclercii Delfortrie 1872 [nomen dubium], Oxypterus Rafinesque 1814 [nomen dubium], Palaeocetus Seeley 1865 [nomen dubium], Proteroceta Ameghino 1889 [empty], Protocetoidea Mitchell 1989 [empty], Remingtonocetoidea Mitchell 1989 [empty], Rhynchoceti Eschricht 1849 [empty], Squalodon hypsispondylus Brandt 1874 [nomen dubium], Zeugloceta Haeckel 1866 [empty], Ziphius (Dolichodon) geelongensis McCoy 1882 [nomen dubium]

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Early/Lower Eocene to the top of the Holocene or 55.80000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 47.8 Ma

Collections (3275 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Paleogene	66.0 - 23.03	Ukraine (Luhansk)	Zeuglodon sp. (224763)
Tertiary	66.0 - 2.58	Poland	Zeuglodon puschii (77355)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	India (Himachal Pradesh)	Himalayacetus subathuensis (45584)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	India (Jammu and Kashmir)	Ichthyolestes pinfoldi (45588)
Ypresian - Lutetian	56.0 - 41.3	Peru	Cetacea indet. (219132)
Ypresian - Bartonian	56.0 - 38.0	Peru (Amazonas)	Basilosauridae indet. (200127)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	Belgium	Basilosauridae indet. (226929)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	USA (North Carolina)	Basilosauridae indet. (132701 133023) Cetacea indet. (133022)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	USA (Florida)	Basilosauridae indet. (132705)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	Ukraine	Archaeoceti indet. (132392) Basilosaurus sp. (132383 132385 132389 132391) Halicore maximovitschii (220326) Zeuglodon sp. (132386)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	USA (Mississippi)	Basilosauridae indet. (131912) Basilosaurus cetoides (131913)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	Russian Federation	Archaeoceti indet. (114208)
Early/Lower Eocene - Middle Eocene	55.8 - 37.71	Pakistan (Kotli District)	Archaeoceti indet. (56695 56696 56697)
Lutetian	47.8 - 41.3	USA (Alabama)	Protocetidae indet. (132627) Protocetidae indet., Georgiacetus vogtlensis (83980)
Lutetian	47.8 - 41.3	India (Kutch)	Andrewsiphius kutchensis (45591) Andrewsiphius sloani (91429) Cetacea indet., Protocetus sloani (43029) Dhedacetus hyaeni (163465) Kutchicetus minimus, Remingtonocetus sloani, Andrewsiphius kutchensis, Dalanistes ahmedi, Indocetus ramani, Babiacetus mishrai, Babiacetus indicus, Gaviacetus sahnii (45592) Protocetus sloani, Andrewsiphius kutchensis, Andrewsiphius minor, Indocetus ramani, Gaviacetus sahnii, Protocetus harudiensis (45590)
Lutetian	47.8 - 41.3	Egypt (Fayum)	Phiomicetus anubis (221850)
Lutetian	47.8 - 41.3	USA (Georgia)	Georgiacetus vogtlensis (4868)
Lutetian	47.8 - 41.3	Pakistan	Ambulocetus natans (95147) Archaeoceti indet. (88340) Cetacea indet. (45620 45621) Gandakasia potens (95148) Ichthyolestes pinfoldi (45587) Pakicetus calcis, Pakicetus chittas, Nalacetus ratimitus, Attockicetus sp. (93595)
Lutetian	47.8 - 41.3	Germany	Cetacea indet. (121968)
Lutetian	47.8 - 41.3	Austria	Basilosauridae indet. (45817)