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Mysticeti

Mammalia - Cetacea

Taxonomy
Mysticeti was named by Cope (1891). It is extant.

It was reranked as the unranked clade Mysticeti by McKenna and Bell (1997), Bianucci and Landini (2007), Agnarsson and May-Collado (2008), Rice (2009), Canto et al. (2010), Geisler et al. (2011), Marx et al. (2016), Marx et al. (2016), Fordyce and Marx (2016), Marx et al. (2017), Berta (2017), Peredo et al. (2018), Peredo and Pyenson (2018), Geisler (2018), Marx et al. (2019) and Bisconti and Bosselaers (2020); it was reranked as the infraorder Mysticeti by Bouetel and Muizon (2006) and Bosselaers and Post (2010).

It was assigned to Autoceta by McKenna and Bell (1997); to Autoceta by Geisler and Sanders (2003); to Cetacea by Agnarsson and May-Collado (2008) and Rice (2009); to Cetacea by Canto et al. (2010); to Autoceta by Bouetel and Muizon (2006) and Bosselaers and Post (2010); to Cetacea by Scammon and Cope (1869), Cope (1890), Miller (1923), Kellogg (1928), Simpson (1945), Fraser and Purves (1960), Scheffer and Rice (1963), Harland et al. (1967), McKenna (1975), Whitmore and Sanders (1977), Baird and Horner (1979), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Mchedlidze (1984), Whitmore (1984), Barnes et al. (1985), Carroll (1988), Pilleri (1990), Vidal (1991), Benton (1993), Fordyce and Barnes (1994), Fordyce et al. (1995), Rice (1998), Bergqvist et al. (1999), Clapham and Mead (1999), Rice (2002), Sanders and Barnes (2002), Gingerich (2005), Mead and Brownell (2005), Bisconti and Varola (2006), Bisconti (2007), Steeman (2007), Otsuka and Ota (2008), Bisconti (2008) and Boessenecker and Fordyce (2015); to Cetacea by Marx and Kohno (2016); and to Neoceti by Fordyce and de Muizon (2001), Fordyce (2003), Bianucci and Landini (2007), Uhen (2010), Steeman (2010), Fitzgerald (2010), Geisler et al. (2011), Bisconti (2014), Peredo and Uhen (2016), Marx et al. (2016), Marx et al. (2016), Fordyce and Marx (2016), Buono et al. (2017), Marx et al. (2017), Bisconti et al. (2017), Berta (2017), Peredo et al. (2018), Peredo and Pyenson (2018), Tanaka et al. (2018), Geisler (2018), de Muizon et al. (2019), Marx et al. (2019), Bisconti and Bosselaers (2020) and Fleming et al. (2022).

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1829Balaena cortesii Fischer p. 527
1844Balaenoptera cortesii Boitard p. 444
1851Balaena palaeatlantica Leidy pp. 308-309
1853Rorqualus cortesii Pictet p. 387
1854Balaena palaeatlantica Leidy p. 8
1855Balaena cortesii Gervais p. 338
1859Plesiocetus Van Beneden p. 139 figs. Figs 35-66, 76
1864Mysticete Gray
1865Rorqualus cortesii Capellini p. 11 figs. Plates 2, 3
1866Mysticete Gray p. 61
1867Eschrichtius leptocentrus Cope p. 144
1867Protobalaena Du Bus p. 573
1867Mystacoceti Flower p. 110
1868Balaenoptera pusilla Cope p. 159
1868Eschrichtius pusillus Cope p. 191
1868Megaptera expansa Cope p. 193
1868Mysticete Gray p. 1
1868Plesiocetus cortesii Van Beneden and Gervais
1869Eschrichtius expansus Cope p. 11
1869Protobalaena Leidy p. 440
1869Protobalaena palaeatlantica Leidy p. 440
1869Eschrichtius expansus Leidy p. 442
1869Eschrichtius leptocentrus Leidy p. 442
1869Eschrichtius pusillus Leidy p. 442
1869Protobalaena Leidy p. 1869
1869Mysticete Scammon and Cope p. 14
1869Mysticeti Scammon and Cope p. 14
1870Mesoteras Cope p. 128
1870Mesoteras kerrianus Cope p. 128
1870Amphitera Gigoli
1870Amphitera pacifica Gigoli
1871Protobalaena Gervais p. 136
1871Mysticete Gill p. 122
1872Mysticete Gill p. 97
1872Probalaena Van Beneden p. 10
1872Cetotherium dubium Van Beneden p. 18 figs. Pl. 23
1872Burtinopsis Van Beneden p. 19
1872Burtinopsis similis Van Beneden p. 19
1873Cetotheriomorphus Brandt p. 48
1873Cetotherium (Plesiocetopsis) dubium Brandt p. 146
1873Burtinopsis Brandt p. 160
1873Cetotheriomorphus Brandt p. 161 figs. Plate 23, Fig. 4-8
1873Plesiocetus Brandt p. 162
1873Mysticete Gill p. 20
1874Balaena brialmonti Vanden Broeck p. 198
1874Heterocetus dubius Vanden Broeck p. 198
1875Mesoteras kerrianus Cope p. 44
1880Burtinopsis similis Van Beneden pp. 16-17
1880Burtinopsis minutus Van Beneden p. 17
1880Plesiocetus brialmonti Van Beneden p. 18
1880Plesiocetus dubius Van Beneden p. 18
1880Plesiocetus cortesii Van Beneden and Gervais p. 288 figs. Plate 17, Figs. 4, 5
1881Cetotherium cortesii Strobel pp. 10-11 figs. Plate 1, Fig.3
1882Burtinopsis minutus Van Beneden p. 80 figs. Plates 97-102
1883Mystacoceti Flower p. 184
1885Plesiocetus brialmonti Van Beneden p. 12
1885Plesiocetus dubius Van Beneden p. 21
1886Balaenoptera (Plesiocetus) Portis p. 286
1886Balaenoptera (Plesiocetus) cortesii Portis p. 286
1887Balaenoptera (Plesiocetus) Depéret p. 273
1887Mystacoceti Lydekker p. 16
1887Megaptera minuta Lydekker p. 31
1887Megaptera similis Lydekker p. 31
1887Cetotherium brialmonti Lydekker p. 42
1887Cetotherium dubium Lydekker p. 42
1887Balaena simpsoni Phillipi
1888Squalodon serratus Davis p. 46 figs. Plate VII, Fig. 9
1889Mystacoceti Cope p. 876
1890Mysticeti Cope p. 610
1890Plesiocetus Cope p. 611
1890Cetotherium pusillum Cope p. 612
1890Mesoteras Cope p. 612
1890Cetotherium expansus Cope p. 616
1890Cetotherium leptocentrum Cope p. 616
1890Mesoteras kerrianus Cope p. 616
1891Mysticeti Cope p. 69
1891Mystacoceti Flower and Lydekker p. 89
1891Megaptera (Burtinopsis) Newton p. 60
1891Megaptera (Burtinopsis) similis Newton p. 60
1891Megaptera (Burtinopsis) minuta Newton p. 61
1891Cetotherium (Plesiocetus) Newton p. 63
1891Cetotherium (Plesiocetus) brialmonti Newton p. 63
1891Cetotherium (Plesiocetus) dubium Newton p. 63
1893Plesiocetus Depéret p. 204
1894Balaena simpsoni Ameghino p. 436
1895Siphonocetus Cope p. 140
1895Siphonocetus expansus Cope p. 140
1895Ulias Cope pp. 141-142
1895Ulias moratus Cope pp. 141-142 figs. Plate VI, Fig. 1
1895Tretulias Cope p. 143
1895Tretulias buccatus Cope pp. 143-144 figs. Plate VI, Fig. 2
1895Eschrichtius pusillus Cope p. 145
1895Cetotherium pusillum Cope p. 573
1895Tretulias buccatus Cope p. 573
1895Ulias moratus Cope p. 573
1895Mystacoceti Flores p. 13
1895Plesiocetus Flores p. 13
1895Plesiocetus dubius Flot p. 114
1896Cetotherium leptocentrum Cope p. 145
1896Rhegnopsis Cope p. 145
1896Rhegnopsis palaeatlantica Cope p. 145
1897Mystacoceti Parker and Haswell p. 451
1898Mystacoceti Gadow p. 44
1898Squalodon serratus Trouessart p. 1015
1898Cetotherium leptocentrum Trouessart p. 1071
1898Plesiocetus Trouessart p. 1072
1898Plesiocetus brialmonti Trouessart p. 1073
1898Plesiocetus dubius Trouessart p. 1073
1898Siphonocetus Trouessart p. 1074
1898Siphonocetus expansus Trouessart p. 1074
1898Tretulias Trouessart p. 1074
1898Tretulias buccatus Trouessart p. 1074
1898Ulias Trouessart p. 1074
1898Ulias moratus Trouessart p. 1074
1898Rhegnopsis Trouessart p. 1077
1898Rhegnopsis palaeatlantica Trouessart p. 1077
1898Megaptera minutus Trouessart p. 1084
1898Megaptera similis Trouessart p. 1084
1898Mesoteras Trouessart p. 1088
1898Mesoteras kerrianus Trouessart p. 1088
1898Balaena simpsoni Trouessart p. 1091
1899Aulocetus calaritanus Capellini p. 282 figs. Plate 1
1899Aulocetus lovisati Capellini p. 282 figs. Plate 2
1901Balaena brialmonti Abel p. 42
1901Heterocetus dubius Abel p. 42
1901Probalaena Abel p. 42
1902Mysticete Hay p. 598
1902Cetotherium leptocentrum Hay p. 599
1902Siphonocetus Hay p. 599
1902Siphonocetus expansus Hay p. 599
1902Ulias Hay p. 599
1902Ulias moratus Hay p. 599
1902Mesoteras Hay p. 600
1902Mesoteras kerrianus Hay p. 600
1902Rhegnopsis Hay p. 600
1902Rhegnopsis palaeatlanticus Hay p. 600
1902Tretulias Hay p. 600
1902Tretulias buccatus Hay p. 600
1904Mysticoceti Case p. 33
1904Siphonocetus Case p. 45
1904Siphonocetus expansus Case p. 45
1904Ulias Case p. 49
1904Ulias moratus Case p. 50
1904Tretulias Case p. 52
1904Tretulias buccatus Case p. 52
1904Burtinopsis Palmer p. 148
1904Cetotheriomorphus Palmer p. 175
1904Mesoteras Palmer p. 416
1904Plesiocetus Palmer p. 548
1904Probalaena Palmer p. 564
1904Protobalaena Palmer p. 581
1904Rhegnopsis Palmer p. 604
1904Siphonocetus Palmer p. 633
1904Tretulias Palmer p. 687
1904Ulias Palmer p. 700
1904Squalodon serratus Trouessart p. 756
1904Cetotherium leptocentrum Trouessart p. 779
1904Plesiocetus Trouessart p. 780
1904Plesiocetus brialmonti Trouessart p. 780
1904Plesiocetus dubius Trouessart p. 780
1904Siphonocetus Trouessart p. 780
1904Siphonocetus expansus Trouessart p. 780
1904Ulias Trouessart p. 780
1904Ulias moratus Trouessart p. 780
1904Aulocetus calaritanus Trouessart p. 781
1904Aulocetus lovisati Trouessart p. 781
1904Tretulias Trouessart p. 781
1904Tretulias buccatus Trouessart p. 781
1904Balaenoptera cuvieri cortesii Trouessart p. 782
1904Rhegnopsis Trouessart p. 782
1904Rhegnopsis palaeatlanticus Trouessart p. 782
1904Amphitera Trouessart p. 785
1904Amphitera pacifica Trouessart p. 785
1904Megaptera minuta Trouessart p. 785
1904Megaptera similis Trouessart p. 785
1904Mesoteras Trouessart p. 786
1904Mesoteras kerrianus Trouessart p. 786
1904Balaena simpsoni Trouessart p. 787
1904Mystacoceti Weber p. 574
1909Plesiocetus brialmonti Dollo p. 117
1910Mystacoceti Gregory p. 466
1911Mystacoceti Jaekel p. 232
1912Cetotheriomorphus True p. 3
1912Mesoteras True p. 3
1912Plesiocetus True p. 3
1912Rhegnopsis True p. 3
1912Siphonocetus True p. 3
1912Tretulias True p. 3
1912Ulias True p. 3
1912Mystacoceti Turner p. 21
1914Mystacoceti Abel p. 221
1918Parasqualodon serratus Chapman figs. Plate VII, Fig. 9
1919Mystacoceti Abel p. 753
1919Plesiocetus Abel p. 753
1921Mystacoceti Winge p. 7
1921Plesiocetus Winge p. 7
1923Squalodon serratus Kellogg p. 31
1923Mysticeti Miller p. 40
1925Mystacoceti Portis p. 14
1925Mystacoceti Zittel p. 87
1925Plesiocetus Zittel p. 87
1925Mesoteras Zittel p. 88
1925Siphonocetus Zittel p. 88
1926Plesiocetus notopelagicus Cabrera p. 372 figs. Fig. 4
1926Neobalaena simpsoni Oliver Schneider p. 155
1928Burtinopsis Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Cetotheriomorphus Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Mesoteras Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Mysticeti Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Plesiocetus Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Protobalaena Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Rhegnopsis Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Siphonocetus Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Tretulias Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Ulias Kellogg p. 35 figs. Table 1
1928Mystacoceti Weber p. 389
1930Mysticete Hay p. 571
1930Cetotherium leptocentrum Hay p. 572
1930Siphonocetus Hay p. 572
1930Siphonocetus expansus Hay p. 572
1930Rhegnopsis Hay p. 573
1930Rhegnopsis palaeatlanticus Hay p. 573
1930Tretulias Hay p. 573
1930Tretulias buccatus Hay p. 573
1930Ulias Hay p. 573
1930Ulias moratus Hay p. 573
1930Mesoteras Hay p. 575
1930Mesoteras kerrianus Hay p. 575
1931Mystacoceti Van Deinse p. 33
1936Mystacoceti Slijper p. 540
1938Cetotherium leptocentrum Abel p. 6
1938Rhegnopsis palaeatlanticus Abel p. 6
1938Mesoteras kerrianus Abel p. 7
1938Siphonocetus expansus Abel p. 7
1938Tretulias buccatus Abel p. 7
1938Ulias moratus Abel p. 7
1938Aulocetus lovisatoi Abel p. 8
1938Cetotheriopsis calaritanus Abel p. 8
1938Mesocetus notopelagicus Abel p. 9
1942Plesiocetopsis notopelagicus Kellogg p. 452
1944Balaenoptera cortesii Kellogg p. 446
1944Balaenoptera floridana Kellogg p. 459 figs. Plate 6
1945Cetotheriomorphis Simpson p. 104
1945Mysticeti Simpson p. 104
1945Rhegnopsis Simpson p. 104
1945Siphonocetus Simpson p. 104
1945Tretulias Simpson p. 104
1945Ulias Simpson p. 104
1945Burtinopsis Simpson p. 105
1945Mesoteras Simpson p. 105
1945Plesiocetus Simpson p. 105
1945Protobalaena Simpson p. 105
1952Balaenoptera floridana Sherman p. 99
1956Mauicetus brevicollis Marples p. 579 figs. Figures 4-6
1960Mysticeti Fraser and Purves p. 112 figs. Figure 26
1961Cetotherium cortesii Cuscani Politi p. 9
1961Burtinopsis similis Cuscani Politi p. 10
1963Mysticeti Scheffer and Rice p. 9
1967Mioceta Deraniyagala p. 50
1967Mioceta bigelowi Deraniyagala p. 50
1967Mauicetus brevicollis Harland et al. p. 774
1967Mysticeti Harland et al. p. 774
1968Mioceta Deraniyagala p. 97
1968Mioceta bigelowi Deraniyagala p. 98
1968Mioceta magna Deraniyagala p. 98
1969Mioceta Deraniyagala p. 13
1969Mioceta magna Deraniyagala p. 14 figs. Plate IV, Fig. 8
1972Squalodon serratus Glaessner p. 183
1973Squalodon serratus Keyes p. 381
1973Mauicetus brevicollis Keyes p. 390
1975Caperea simpsoni Donoso-Barros p. 88
1975Mysticeti McKenna p. 43
1977Plesiocetus Barnes p. 331
1977Mysticeti Whitmore and Sanders p. 305
1979Mysticeti Baird and Horner p. 19
1980Mauicetus brevicollis Fordyce p. iii figs. Table 2
1980Mioceta Sahni and Mitra p. 43
1981Mysticeti Thurmond and Jones p. 197
1984Mysticeti Mchedlidze p. 5
1984Mysticeti Whitmore p. 230
1985Mysticeti Barnes et al. p. 26
1986Balaenoptera minutis Deméré p. 291
1986Balaenoptera similis Deméré p. 291
1986Balaenoptera floridana Deméré p. 294
1988Burtinopsis Carroll
1988Cetotheriomorphis Carroll
1988Mesoteras Carroll
1988Mysticeti Carroll
1988Plesiocetus Carroll
1988Protobalaena Carroll
1988Rhegnopsis Carroll
1988Siphonocetus Carroll
1989Crenaticeti Mitchell p. 2220
1990Mysticeti Pilleri p. 48
1991Burtinopsis Vidal p. 6
1991Mysticeti Vidal p. 6
1991Plesiocetus Vidal p. 6
1993Mysticeti Benton p. 762
1993Plesiocetus Benton p. 762
1993Rhegnopsis Benton p. 762
1994Mysticeti Fordyce and Barnes p. 428 figs. Table 1
1995Mysticeti Fordyce et al. p. 379
1996Balaenoptera floridana Allmon et al. p. 148 figs. Table 2
1996Crenaticeti Cozzuol p. 324
1996Plesiocetus Cozzuol p. 324
1997Mysticeti McKenna and Bell p. 374
1997Siphonocetus McKenna and Bell p. 374
1997Tretulias McKenna and Bell p. 375
1997Ulias McKenna and Bell p. 375
1997Rhegnopsis McKenna and Bell p. 376
1997Plesiocetus McKenna and Bell p. 377
1997Burtinopsis McKenna and Bell p. 378
1997Mesoteras McKenna and Bell p. 378
1998Crenaticeti Rice
1998Mysticeti Rice
1999Mysticeti Bergqvist et al. p. 31
1999Mysticeti Clapham and Mead p. 1
2001Mysticeti Fordyce and de Muizon p. 176
2002Mysticeti Rice p. 231 figs. Table 1
2002Mysticeti Sanders and Barnes p. 353
2002Burtinopsis Sepkoski
2002Cetotheriomorphis Sepkoski
2002Mesoteras Sepkoski
2002Plesiocetus Sepkoski
2002Protobalaena Sepkoski
2002Rhegnopsis Sepkoski
2002Siphonocetus Sepkoski
2002Tretulias Sepkoski
2002Ulias Sepkoski
2003Mysticeti Fordyce p. 156 figs. Figure 9.1
2003Mysticeti Geisler and Sanders p. 27
2005Balaenoptera minutis Deméré et al. p. 105 figs. Table II
2005Balaenoptera similis Deméré et al. p. 105 figs. Table II
2005Plesiocetus Deméré et al. p. 105 figs. Table II
2005Mysticeti Gingerich p. 237 figs. Table 15.1
2005Mysticeti Mead and Brownell p. 723
2006Mysticeti Bisconti and Varola p. 449
2006Mysticeti Bouetel and Muizon p. 323
2007Mysticeti Bianucci and Landini p. 45 figs. Table 2.1
2007Mysticeti Bisconti p. 89
2007Mysticeti Steeman p. 880
2007Plesiocetus Steeman p. 880
2008Mysticeti Agnarsson and May-Collado p. 981 figs. Fig. 2
2008Mysticeti Bisconti p. 162
2008Mysticeti Otsuka and Ota p. 12
2008Balaenoptera floridana Uhen et al. p. 619
2008Plesiocetus Uhen et al. p. 620
2009Mysticeti Rice p. 235 figs. Table 1
2010Mysticeti Bosselaers and Post p. 335
2010Mysticeti Canto et al. p. 21
2010Balaena simpsoni Canto et al. p. 22
2010Mysticeti Fitzgerald p. 370 figs. Table 1
2010Mysticeti Steeman p. 65
2010Plesiocetus Steeman p. 69
2010Mysticeti Uhen p. 208 figs. Figure 1
2011Mysticeti Geisler et al. p. 6 figs. Table 1
2014Mysticeti Bisconti
2015Mysticeti Boessenecker and Fordyce
2016Mysticeti Fordyce and Marx p. 108
2016Mysticeti Marx et al. p. 4
2016Mysticeti Marx and Kohno
2016Mysticeti Marx et al. p. 102
2016Mysticeti Peredo and Uhen
2017Mysticeti Berta p. 166
2017Plesiocetus Berta p. 168
2017Mysticeti Bisconti et al. p. 7
2017Mysticeti Buono et al. p. 11
2017Mysticeti Marx et al. p. 2
2018Mysticeti Geisler p. 631
2018Mysticeti Peredo et al. p. 1
2018Mysticeti Tanaka et al. p. 297
2019Mysticeti Marx et al. p. 4
2019Mysticeti de Muizon et al. p. 405
2020Mysticeti Bisconti and Bosselaers p. 8
2022Mysticeti Fleming et al. p. 3

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Life
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
RankNameAuthor
classMammalia
Theriamorpha(Rowe 1993)
Theriiformes()
Trechnotheria
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
Laurasiatheria
Scrotifera
Euungulata
Artiodactylamorpha
Artiodactyla()
Whippomorpha
orderCetacea
Pelagiceti
Neoceti
suborderMysticeti
suborderMysticeti

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.

Subor. Mysticeti Cope 1891
show all | hide all
Fm. †Aetiocetidae Emlong 1966
+
G. †Aetiocetus Emlong 1966
+
Aetiocetus cotylalveus Emlong 1966
Aetiocetus polydentatus Barnes et al. 1995
Aetiocetus weltoni Barnes et al. 1995
G. †Ashorocetus Barnes et al. 1995
+
Invalid names: Ashorocetus eguchii Barnes et al. 1995 [nomen dubium]
G. †Chonecetus Russell 1968
+
Chonecetus sookensis Russell 1968
Chonecetus tomitai Barnes et al. 1995
Chonecetus yabukii Barnes et al. 1995
Invalid names: Morawanocetus Barnes et al. 1995 [synonym]
G. †Fucaia Marx et al. 2015
+
Fucaia buelli Marx et al. 2015
Fucaia goedertorum Barnes et al. 1995
G. †Kaaucetus Hernández-Cisneros 2022
+
Kaaucetus thesaurus Hernández-Cisneros 2022
G. †Salishicetus Peredo and Pyenson 2018
+
Salishicetus meadi Peredo and Pyenson 2018
G. †Tohoraata Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
+
Tohoraata raekohao Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
Tohoraata waitakiensis Marples 1956
G. †Willungacetus Pledge 2005
+
Invalid names: Willungacetus aldingensis Pledge 2005 [nomen dubium]
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
+
Niparajacetus palmadentis 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
+
Superfm. Balaenoidea Flower 1865
+
Fm. Balaenidae Gray 1821 [right whale]
+
G. †Antwerpibalaena de Lavigerie et al. 2020
G. †Archaeobalaena Tanaka et al. 2020
G. Balaena Linnaeus 1758 [bowhead whale]
G. †Balaenella Bisconti 2005
G. †Balaenotus Van Beneden 1872
G. †Balaenula Van Beneden 1872
G. †Charadrobalaena Bisconti et al. 2023
G. Eubalaena Gray 1864 [right whale]
+
Invalid names: Halibalaena Gray 1873 [synonym], Hunterius Flower 1864 [synonym], Macleayius Gray 1864 [synonym]
G. †Idiocetus Capellini 1876
G. †Morenocetus Cabrera 1926
G. †Peripolocetus Kellogg 1931
Invalid names: Balaena belgica Abel 1941 [nomen dubium], Balaena dubia Bravard 1858 [nomen dubium], Balaena etrusca Capellini 1872 [nomen nudum], Balaena paronai Del Prato 1900 [nomen nudum], Balaena primigenius Van Beneden 1872 [nomen nudum], Balaeninae Flower 1867 [empty], Balaenini Gray 1825 [empty], Eucetites Ameghino 1901 [nomen dubium]
G. †Persufflatius Bosselaers and Munsterman 2022
+
Persufflatius renefraaijeni Bosselaers and Munsterman 2022
Superfm. †Thalassotherii Bisconti et al. 2013
+
G. †Atlanticetus Bisconti et al. 2020
+
Atlanticetus laevi Rule et al. 2020
Atlanticetus lavei Bisconti et al. 2020
Atlanticetus patulus Kellogg 1968
Fm. Balaenopteridae Gray 1864 [rorqual]
+
G. †Archaebalaenoptera Bisconti 2007
G. Balaenoptera Lacépède 1804 [rorqual]
+
Invalid names: Benedenia Gray 1864 [synonym], Cuvierius Gray 1866 [synonym], Mysticetus Wagler 1830 [synonym], Physalis Fleming 1822 [synonym], Physalus Gray 1821 [objective synonym], Pterobalaena Eschricht 1849 [synonym], Rorqualus Cuvier 1836 [synonym], Rudolphius Gray 1866 [synonym], Sibbaldus Flower 1865 [synonym], Swinhoia Gray 1868 [synonym]
Subfm. Balaenopterinae Flower 1865
+
Invalid names: Physalina Gray 1864 [synonym]
G. †Cetotheriophanes Brandt 1873
G. †Diunatans Bosselaers and Post 2010
G. †Eobalaenoptera Dooley et al. 2004
Subfm. Eschrichtiinae Ellerman and Morrisson-Scott 1951 [gray whale]
G. †Fragilicetus Bisconti and Bosselaers 2016
G. †Incakujira Marx and Kohno 2016
G. †Marzanoptera Bisconti et al. 2021
G. Megaptera Gray 1846 [humpback whale]
+
Invalid names: Cyphobalaena Marschall 1873 [synonym], Kyphobalaena Eschricht [synonym], Perqualus Gray 1846 [synonym], Poescopia Gray 1864 [synonym]
G. †Miobalaenoptera Tanaka and Watanabe 2019
G. †Nehalaennia Bisconti et al. 2019
G. †Notiocetus Ameghino 1891
G. †Plesiobalaenoptera Bisconti 2010
G. †Praemegaptera Behrmann 1995
G. †Protororqualus Bisconti 2007
Invalid names: Agaphelinae Gray 1870 [empty], Balaena affinis Owen 1843 [invalid subgroup], Balaena definata Owen 1843 [nomen dubium], Balaena emarginata Owen 1843 [nomen dubium], Balaena gibbosa Owen 1843 [nomen dubium], Balaenoptera borealina Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium], Balaenoptera garopii Van Beneden 1859 [nomen dubium], Balaenoptera musculoides Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium], Balaenoptera portisii Sacco 1890 [invalid subgroup], Balaenoptera rostratella Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium], Balaenoptera sibbaldina Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium], Balaenoptera taiwanica Huang 1966 [invalid subgroup], Delphinus brachyspondylus Brandt 1873 [invalid subgroup], Hadrosaurus tripos Cope 1869 [nomen dubium], Megaptera affinis Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium], Megapterinae Flower 1865 [empty], Megapteropsis robusta Van Beneden 1872 [nomen dubium], Palaeocetidae Seeley 1865 [synonym], Parabalaenopterinae Zeigler et al. 1997 [empty], Praemegapterinae Behrmann 1995 [empty]
G. †Isocetus Van Beneden 1880
+
Isocetus depauwi Van Beneden and Gervais 1868
Invalid names: Aglaocetidae Steeman 2007 [invalid subgroup], Diorocetidae Steeman 2007 [invalid subgroup], Pelocetidae Steeman 2007 [invalid subgroup], Plesiocetus burtinii Van Beneden 1859 [nomen dubium]
G. †Thinocetus Kellogg 1969
+
Thinocetus arthritus Kellogg 1969
Fm. Cetotheriidae Brandt 1872
+
G. †Adicetus Figueiredo et al. 2024
+
Adicetus latus Kellogg 1940
Adicetus vandelli Van Beneden and Gervais 1868
G. †Cephalotropis Cope 1896
+
Cephalotropis nectus Kellogg 1940
Subfm. †Cetotheriinae Whitmore and Barnes 2008
+
G. †Brandtocetus Goldin and Startsev 2014
+
Brandtocetus chongulek Goldin and Startsev 2014
G. †Cetotherium Brandt 1843
+
Cetotherium capellinii Brandt 1873
Cetotherium furlongi Kellogg 1925
Cetotherium parvum Trouessart 1898
+
Invalid names: Delphinapterus tyrannus Cope 1868 [synonym]
Cetotherium polyporum Cope 1869
Cetotherium rathkii Brandt 1843
Cetotherium riabinini Hofstein 1948
G. †Kurdalagonus Tarasenko and Lopatin 2012
+
Kurdalagonus maicopicus Spasski 1951
Kurdalagonus mchedlidzei Tarasenko and Lopatin 2012
G. †Mithridatocetus Goldin and Startsev 2017
+
Mithridatocetus adygeicus Tarasenko and Lopatin 2012
Mithridatocetus eichwaldi Goldin and Startsev 2017
Invalid names: Cetotherium mayeri Brandt 1871 [invalid subgroup]
G. †Zygiocetus Tarasenko 2014
+
Zygiocetus nartorum Tarasenko 2014
G. †Ciuciulea Gol'din 2018
+
Ciuciulea davidi Gol'din 2018
G. †Cophocetus Packard and Kellogg 1934
+
Cophocetus oregonensis Packard and Kellogg 1934
G. †Eucetotherium Brandt 1873
+
G. †Herentalia Bisconti 2014
+
Herentalia nigra Bisconti 2014
Subfm. Herpetocetinae Steeman 2007
+
G. †Herpetocetus Van Beneden 1872
+
Herpetocetus bramblei Whitmore and Barnes 2008
Herpetocetus morrowi El Adli et al. 2014
Herpetocetus scaldiensis Van Beneden 1872
Herpetocetus sendaicus Hatai et al. 1963
Herpetocetus transatlanticus Whitmore and Barnes 2008
Invalid names: Mizuhoptera Hatai et al. 1963 [synonym]
G. †Nannocetus Kellogg 1929
+
Nannocetus eremus Kellogg 1929
G. †Heterocetus Capellini 1877
+
Heterocetus brevifrons Van Beneden 1872
Heterocetus guiscardii Capellini 1877
Heterocetus major Stefano 1900
Heterocetus scriptus Vanden Broeck 1874
Invalid names: Heterocetus sprangii Van Beneden 1886 [nomen dubium]
G. †Hibacetus Otsuka and Ota 2008
+
Hibacetus hirosei Otsuka and Ota 2008
G. †Imerocetus Mchedlidze 1964
+
Imerocetus karaganicus Mchedlidze 1964
G. †Joumocetus Kimura and Hasegawa 2010
+
Joumocetus shimizui Kimura and Hasegawa 2010
G. †Metopocetus Cope 1896
+
Metopocetus durinasus Cope 1896
Metopocetus hunteri Marx et al. 2016
Subfm. Neobalaeninae Miller 1923 [pygmy right whale]
+
G. Caperea Gray 1864
+
Caperea marginata Gray 1846 [pygmy right whale]
+
Invalid names: Balaena (Caperea) antipodarum Gray 1864 [synonym]
Invalid names: Neobalaena Gray 1870 [synonym]
G. †Miocaperea Bisconti 2012
+
Miocaperea pulchra Bisconti 2012
G. †Palaeobalaena Moreno 1882
+
Palaeobalaena bergi Moreno 1882
G. †Piscobalaena Pilleri and Siber 1989
+
Piscobalaena nana Pilleri and Siber 1989
G. †Taikicetus Tanaka et al. 2018
+
Taikicetus inouei Tanaka et al. 2018
G. †Titanocetus Bisconti 2006
+
Titanocetus sammarinensis Capellini 1901
G. †Tiucetus Marx et al. 2017
+
Tiucetus rosae Marx et al. 2017
G. †Tranatocetus Gol'din and Steeman 2015
+
Tranatocetus maregermanicum Marx et al. 2019
G. †Vampalus Tarasenko and Lopatin 2012
+
Vampalus sayasanicus Tarasenko and Lopatin 2012
G. †Cetotheriopsis Brandt 1871
+
Invalid names: Aulocetus Van Beneden 1875 [objective synonym], Stenodon Van Beneden 1865 [replaced]
Fm. †Eomysticetidae Sanders and Barnes 2002
+
G. †Echericetus Hernández-Cisneros et al. 2024
+
Echericetus novellus Hernández-Cisneros et al. 2024
G. †Eomysticetus Sanders and Barnes 2002
+
Eomysticetus carolinensis Sanders and Barnes 2002
Eomysticetus whitmorei Sanders and Barnes 2002
G. †Matapanui Boessenecker and Fordyce 2017
+
Matapanui waihao Boessenecker and Fordyce 2017
Invalid names: Matapa Boessenecker and Fordyce 2017 [replaced]
G. †Micromysticetus Sanders and Barnes 2002
+
Micromysticetus rothauseni Sanders and Barnes 2002
Micromysticetus tobieni Rothausen 1971
G. †Tokarahia Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
+
Tokarahia kauaeroa Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
Tokarahia lophocephalus Marples 1956
G. †Waharoa Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
+
Waharoa ruwhenua Boessenecker and Fordyce 2015
G. †Yamatocetus Okazaki 2012
+
Yamatocetus canaliculatus Okazaki 2012
G. †Halicetus Kellogg 1969
+
Halicetus ignotus Kellogg 1969
G. †Jobancetus Kimura et al. 2022
+
Jobancetus pacificus Kimura et al. 2022
G. †Piscocetus Pilleri and Pilleri 1989
+
Piscocetus sacaco Pilleri and Pilleri 1989
Unr. Plicogulae Geisler et al. 2011
+
Superfm. †Balaenopteroidea Gray 1868
+
G. †Aglaocetus Kellogg 1934
+
Aglaocetus latifrons Van Beneden 1880
Aglaocetus longifrons Van Beneden 1880
Aglaocetus moreni Lydekker 1894
Aglaocetus rotundus Van Beneden 1880
G. †Amphicetus Van Beneden 1880
+
Amphicetus later Van Beneden 1880
Invalid names: Amphicetus editus Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium], Amphicetus verus Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium]
G. †Diorocetus Kellogg 1968
+
Diorocetus chichibuensis Yoshida et al. 2003
Diorocetus hiatus Kellogg 1968
Diorocetus shobarensis Otsuka and Ota 2008
Fm. Eschrichtiidae Ellerman and Morrisson-Scott 1951 [gray whale]
+
G. †Archaeschrichtius Bisconti and Varola 2006
G. †Eschrichtioides Bisconti 2008
G. Eschrichtius Gray 1864 [gray whale]
+
Invalid names: Agaphelus Cope 1868 [synonym], Rhachianectes Trouessart 1898 [synonym]
G. †Gricetoides Whitmore and Kaltenbach 2008
Invalid names: Rhachianectidae Weber 1904 [objective synonym]
G. †Mauicetus Benham 1939
+
Mauicetus parki Benham 1937
Invalid names: Lophocephalus Benham 1937 [replaced]
Superfm. †Panbalaenopteroidea Leslie et al. 2019
+
G. †Kennedycetus Solis-Añorve et al. 2021
G. †Norrisanima Leslie et al. 2019
G. †Parabalaenoptera Zeigler et al. 1997
G. †Pelocetus Kellogg 1965
G. †Tiphyocetus Kellogg 1931
+
Tiphyocetus temblorensis Kellogg 1931
G. †Uranocetus Steeman 2009
+
Uranocetus gramensis Steeman 2009
Invalid names: Physalidae Gray 1864 [empty]
Superfm. Cetotherioidea Steeman 2007
+
G. †Otradnocetus Mchedlidze 1984
+
Otradnocetus virodovi Mchedlidze 1984
G. †Parietobalaena Kellogg 1924
+
Parietobalaena affinis Van Beneden and Gervais 1868
Parietobalaena campiniana Bisconti et al. 2013
Parietobalaena laxata Van Beneden 1880
Parietobalaena palmeri Kellogg 1924
Parietobalaena securis Kellogg 1931
Parietobalaena yamaokai Otsuka and Ota 2008
G. †Pinocetus Czyzewska and Ryziewicz 1976
+
Pinocetus polonicus Czyzewska and Ryziewicz 1976
G. †Isanacetus Kimura and Ozawa 2002
+
Isanacetus laticephalus Kimura and Ozawa 2002
Fm. †Tranatocetidae Gol'din and Steeman 2015
+
G. †Mesocetus Van Beneden 1880
+
Mesocetus agrami Van Beneden 1884
Mesocetus aquitanicus Flot 1896
Mesocetus hungaricus Kadic 1904
Mesocetus longirostris Van Beneden 1880
Mesocetus siphunculus Cope 1895
Invalid names: Mesocetus pinguis Van Beneden 1880 [nomen dubium]
G. †Mixocetus Kellogg 1934
+
Mixocetus elysius Kellogg 1934
G. †Plesiocetopsis Brandt 1873
+
Plesiocetopsis hupschii Van Beneden 1859
G. †Sitsqwayk Peredo and Uhen 2016
+
Sitsqwayk cornishorum Peredo and Uhen 2016
G. †Tlaxcallicetus Cisneros 2018
+
Tlaxcallicetus guaycurae Cisneros 2018
G. †Whakakai Tsai and Fordyce 2016
+
Whakakai waipata Tsai and Fordyce 2016
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
+
Coronodon havensteini Geisler et al. 2017
Coronodon newtonorum Boessenecker et al. 2023
Coronodon planifrons Boessenecker et al. 2023
G. †Horopeta Tsai and Fordyce 2015
+
Horopeta umarere Tsai and Fordyce 2015
Fm. †Llanocetidae Mitchell 1989
+
G. †Llanocetus Mitchell 1989
+
Llanocetus denticrenatus Mitchell 1989
G. †Maiabalaena Peredo et al. 2018
+
Maiabalaena nesbittae Peredo et al. 2018
Fm. †Mammalodontidae Mitchell 1989
+
G. †Janjucetus Fitzgerald 2006
+
Janjucetus hunderi Fitzgerald 2006
G. †Mammalodon Pritchard 1939
+
Mammalodon colliveri Pritchard 1939
Mammalodon hakataramea Fordyce and Marx 2016
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
+
Mystacodon selenensis Lambert et al. 2017
G. †Toipahautea Tsai and Fordyce 2018
+
Toipahautea waitaki Tsai and Fordyce 2018
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]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatitesubo
Form: roller-shapedo
Ontogeny: modification of partso
Environment: marinesubo
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: aquaticsubo
Depth habitat: surfaceo
Diet: carnivoresubo
Diet 2: suspension feedersubo
Reproduction: viviparouso
Created: 2005-03-06 14:20:41
Modified: 2005-03-06 16:34:40
Source: subo = suborder, o = order
Reference: Uhen 2004

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Whaingaroan to the top of the Holocene or 34.30000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 33.9 Ma

Collections (1049 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Priabonian38.0 - 33.9Peru (Ica) Mysticeti indet. (112290)
Priabonian38.0 - 33.9Antarctica (Seymour Island) Llanocetus denticrenatus (100290)
Priabonian38.0 - 33.9Antarctica Llanocetus sp. (100410) Zeuglodon sp. (45723)
Whaingaroan34.3 - 27.3New Zealand Cetacea indet. (74752)
Whaingaroan34.3 - 27.3New Zealand (South Canterbury) Matapa waihao (179790)
Whaingaroan34.3 - 27.3New Zealand (South Island) Matapa sp. (179791) Toipahautea waitaki (216918)
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate) Mysticeti indet. (65088)
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1USA (Oregon) Aetiocetus cotylalveus (84332) Maiabalaena nesbittae (193002)
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1USA (Washington) Fucaia buelli (120368) Mysticeti indet. (45805 45806 45808) Mysticeti indet., Borealodon osedax (58964)
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1USA (South Carolina) Coronodon havensteini (182155 186670 229944 229945) Dorudon serratus (188994) Micromysticetus rothauseni (45777 45778)
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1Australia (South Australia) Aetiocetidae indet. (45824)
Late/Upper Oligocene28.4 - 23.03Japan (Yamaguchi) Mauicetus sp. (51454) Metasqualodon symmetricus (51437)
Late/Upper Oligocene28.4 - 23.03New Zealand Eomysticetidae indet. (67856)
Late/Upper Oligocene28.4 - 23.03USA (Virginia) Micromysticetus sp. (167203)
Late/Upper Oligocene28.4 - 23.03Japan Aetiocetidae indet. (183070)
Late/Upper Oligocene28.4 - 23.03New Zealand (South Island) Mauicetus parki, Tokarahia lophocephalus, Waharoa ruwhenua, Chaeomysticeti indet. (173285) Waharoa ruwhenua, Chaeomysticeti indet. (173286)
Late/Upper Oligocene - Early/Lower Miocene28.4 - 15.97Australia (Victoria) Mammalodontidae indet. (51395)
Late/Upper Oligocene - Early/Lower Miocene28.4 - 15.97Mexico (Baja California Sur) Cetotheriidae indet. (159695)
Late/Upper Oligocene - Early/Lower Miocene28.4 - 15.97New Zealand (North Otago) Balaenopteridae indet. (87888)
Chattian28.1 - 23.03USA (South Carolina) Coronodon newtonorum (229946) Coronodon planifrons (97550 229963) Eomysticetus carolinensis (45781) Eomysticetus whitmorei (45780)