The list of extinct cetaceans features the extinct genera and

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of the order Cetacea. The cetaceans (

whale Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. As an informal and colloquial grouping, they correspond to large members of the infraorder Cetacea, i.e. all cetaceans apart from dolphins and ...

dolphin A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (the ...

s and porpoises) are descendants of land-living mammals, the

even-toed ungulate The even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla , ) are ungulates—hoofed animals—which bear weight equally on two (an even number) of their five toes: the third and fourth. The other three toes are either present, absent, vestigial, or pointing poster ...

s. The earliest cetaceans were still hoofed mammals. These early cetaceans became gradually better adapted for swimming than for walking on land, finally

evolving Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation t ...

into fully marine cetaceans. This list currently includes only

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

genera and species. However, the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

population of gray whales (''Eschrichtius robustus'') became extinct in the 18th century, and the baiji (or Chinese river dolphin, ''Lipotes vexillifer'') was declared "

functionally extinct Functional extinction is the extinction of a species or other taxon such that: #It disappears from the fossil record, or historic reports of its existence cease; #The reduced population no longer plays a significant role in ecosystem function; or ...

" after an expedition in late 2006 failed to find any in the

Yangtze River The Yangtze or Yangzi ( or ; ) is the longest list of rivers of Asia, river in Asia, the list of rivers by length, third-longest in the world, and the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country. It rises at Jari Hill in th ...

Suborder
Archaeoceti Archaeoceti ("ancient whales"), or Zeuglodontes in older literature, is a paraphyletic group of primitive cetaceans that lived from the Early Eocene to the late Oligocene (). Representing the earliest cetacean radiation, they include the initial ...

Family
Ambulocetidae Ambulocetidae is a family of early cetaceans from Pakistan. The genus '' Ambulocetus'', after which the family is named, is by far the most complete and well-known ambulocetid genus due to the excavation of an 80% complete specimen of ''Ambulocet ...

(Eocene) * ''

Ambulocetus ''Ambulocetus'' (Latin ''ambulare'' "to walk" + ''cetus'' "whale") is a genus of early amphibious cetacean from the Kuldana Formation in Pakistan, roughly 48 or 47 million years ago during the Early Eocene (Lutetian). It contains one species, ' ...

'' * ''

Himalayacetus ''Himalayacetus'' is an extinct genus of carnivorous aquatic mammal of the family Ambulocetidae. The holotype was found in Himachal Pradesh, India, (: paleocoordinates ) in what was the remnants of the ancient Tethys Ocean during the Early Eoc ...

'' * '' Gandakasia''

Family
Basilosauridae Basilosauridae is a family of extinct cetaceans. They lived during the middle to the early late Eocene and are known from all continents, including Antarctica. They were probably the first fully aquatic cetaceans.Buono M, Fordyce R.E., Marx F.G. ...

(Late Eocene) Basilosaurus1DB

Basilosaurinae Basilosaurinae is a subfamily of cetaceans archaeocetes containing two genera: ''Basilosaurus'' and ''Basiloterus''.. Retrieved July 2013. They were characterized by elongated distal thoracic vertebrae, lumbar, and proximal sacrococcygeal. All k ...

** ''

Basilosaurus ''Basilosaurus'' (meaning "king lizard") is a genus of large, predatory, prehistoric archaeocete whale from the late Eocene, approximately 41.3 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). First described in 1834, it was the first archaeocete and prehistor ...

'' ** ''

Basiloterus ''Basiloterus'' is an extinct genus of late-Eocene primitive whale from the Drazinda Formation, Pakistan and possibly also the Barton Group (originally Barton Beds) of England.Gingerich ''et al.'', 1997 ''Basiloterus husseini'' is the closest k ...

'' ** ''

Eocetus ''Eocetus'' is an extinct protocetid early whale known from the early late Eocene (Bartonian, ) Giushi Formation in Gebel Mokattam, (, paleocoordinates ) outside Cairo, Egypt. The specimen was first named by Fraas as ''Mesocetus schweinfurth ...

'' ** ''

Platyosphys ''Platyosphys'' is a genus of basilosaurid from Middle Eocene (Bartonian) of the eastern United States and Ukraine. Taxonomy The type species, ''Platyosphys paulsoni'', was originally described as ''Zeuglodon paulsoni'' in 1873 on the basis ...

'' *

Dorudontinae Dorudontinae are a group of extinct cetaceans that are related to '' Basilosaurus''.. Retrieved July 2013. Classification * Subfamily Dorudontinae ** Genus '' Ancalecetus'' *** ''Ancalecetus simonsi'' ** Genus '' Chrysocetus'' *** ''Chrysocetu ...

** ''

Ancalecetus ''Ancalecetus'' (from Greek ''ankale'', "bent arm", and ''ketos'', "whale") is an extinct genus of early whale known from the Late Eocene (Priabonian, ) Birket Qarun Formation (, paleocoordinates ) in Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt. The species is name ...

'' ** ''

Chrysocetus ''Chrysocetus'' (from Greek ''chrysous'', "golden", and ''ketos'', "whale", in reference to the gold-colored bones of the type specimen) is a genus of extinct early whale known from Late Eocene-aged fossils of the eastern United States and wes ...

'' ** ''

Cynthiacetus ''Cynthiacetus'' is an extinct genus of basilosaurid early whale that lived during the Late Eocene ( Bartonian-Priabonian, .) Specimens have been found in the southeastern United States and Peru ( Otuma Formation). Description ''Cynthiacet ...

'' ** ''

Dorudon ''Dorudon'' ("spear-tooth") is a genus of extinct basilosaurid ancient whales that lived alongside ''Basilosaurus'' 40.4 to 33.9 million years ago in the Eocene. It was a small whale, with ''D. atrox'' measuring long and weighing . ''Dorudon'' ...

'' ** ''

Masracetus ''Masracetus'' (from Arabic ''Masr'', "Egypt", and Greek ''ketos'', "whale") is an extinct genus of basilosaurid ancient whale known from the Late Eocene (Priabonian, ) of Egypt. ''Masracetus'' was briefly described in an addendum by and is k ...

'' ** ''

Ocucajea ''Ocucajea'' is an extinct genus of basilosaurid cetacean from Middle Eocene (Bartonian stage) deposits of southern Peru. ''Ocucajea'' is known from the holotype MUSM 1442, a partial skeleton. It was collected in the Archaeocete Valley site ...

'' ** ''

Saghacetus ''Saghacetus'' is an extinct genus of basilosaurid early whale, fossils of which have been found in the Upper Eocene (middle Priabonian, ) Qasr el Sagha Formation, Egypt (, paleocoordinates ). In 1879, German botanist Georg August Schweinfu ...

'' ** '' Supayacetus'' ** ''

Zygorhiza ''Zygorhiza'' ("Yoke-Root") is an extinct genus of basilosaurid early whale known from the Late Eocene ( Priabonian, 38–34 Ma) of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, United States, and the Bartonian (43–37 Ma on the New Zealand geologic tim ...

'' * Stromeriinae ** ''

Stromerius ''Stromerius'' is an extinct genus of basilosaurid early whale known from the Late Eocene (Priabonian, ) of Fayum, Egypt (, paleocoordinates ). ''Stromerius'' is known from several well-preserved vertebrae. Distinguishing features for the g ...

Family Kekenodontidae

(Oligocene) * '' Kekenodon''

Family
Pakicetid Pakicetidae ("Pakistani whales") is an extinct family of Archaeoceti (early whales) that lived during the Early Eocene in Pakistan. Description described the first pakicetid, ''Ichthyolestes'', but at the time they did not recognize it as a cet ...
ae

(Early to Middle Eocene) Ambulocetus et pakicetus

* '' Gandakasia'' * ''

Pakicetus ''Pakicetus'' is an extinct genus of amphibious cetacean of the family Pakicetidae, which was endemic to Pakistan during the Eocene, about 50 million years ago. It was a wolf-like animal, about to long, and lived in and around water where it a ...

'' * ''

Nalacetus ''Nalacetus'' is an extinct pakicetid early whale, fossils of which have been found in Lutetian red beds in Punjab, Pakistan (, paleocoordinates ).. Retrieved June 2013.. Retrieved June 2013. ''Nalacetus'' lived in a fresh water environment, w ...

'' * '' Ichthyolestes''

Family
Protocetidae Protocetidae, the protocetids, form a diverse and heterogeneous group of extinct cetaceans known from Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. Description There were many genera, and some of these are very well known (e.g., '' R ...

(Eocene)

* Georgiacetinae ** '' Aegicetus'' ** ''

Babiacetus ''Babiacetus'' is an extinct genus of early cetacean that lived during the late Lutetian middle Eocene of India ().. Retrieved April 2013. It was named after its type locality, the Harudi Formation in the Babia Hills (: paleocoordinates ), ...

'' ** '' Carolinacetus'' ** ''

Georgiacetus ''Georgiacetus'' is an extinct genus of ancient whale known from the Eocene period of the United States. Fossils are known from Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi and protocetid fossils from the right time frame, but not yet confirmed as ''Georg ...

'' ** '' Natchitochia'' Maiacetus

** ''

Pappocetus } ''Pappocetus'' is an extinct protocetid cetacean known from the Eocene of Nigeria and Togo. The type specimen BMNH M11414 an incomplete left mandible with symphysis, a deciduous premolar, and unerupted molars. It was found in Bartonian () la ...

'' ** '' Pontobasileus'' ** '' Tupelocetus'' * Makaracetinae ** ''

Makaracetus ''Makaracetus'' is an extinct protocetid early whale the remains of which were found in 2004 in Lutetian layers of the Domanda Formation in the Sulaiman Range of Balochistan, Pakistan (, paleocoordinates ). ''Makaracetus'' is unique among arc ...

'' * Protocetinae ** ''

Aegyptocetus ''Aegyptocetus'' is an extinct genus of protocetid archaeocete whale known from Egypt. Taxonomy ''Aegyptocetus'' is known from the articulated holotype MSNTUP I-15459, an almost complete cranium, lower jaws (with teeth) and a partial pos ...

'' ** ''

Artiocetus ''Artiocetus'' is an extinct genus of early whales belonging to the family Protocetidae. It was a close relative to ''Rodhocetus'' and its tarsals indicate it resembled an artiodactyl. Etymology ''Artiocetus name arises from a combination ...

'' ** ''

Crenatocetus ''Crenatocetus'' (from Latin: ''crena'', "notch", and ''cetus'', "whale") is an extinct genus of protocetid early whale containing one species, ''Crenatocetus rayi'', that lived along the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States during the L ...

'' ** ''

Dhedacetus ''Dhedacetus hyaeni'' is a protocetid cetacean from the middle Eocene (late Lutetian, 42 mya). It is the only species in the genus ''Dhedacetus''. The type specimen was recovered from the Indian Harudi Formation near the town of Dhedadi, Kutc ...

'' ** ''

Gaviacetus ''Gaviacetus'' (from Latin ''Gavia'', "loon" and ''cetus'', "whale") is an extinct Archaeoceti, archaeocete Cetacea, whale that lived approximately . ''Gaviacetus'' was named for its characteristic narrow Rostrum (anatomy), rostrum and the fast ...

'' ** ''

Indocetus ''Indocetus'' is a protocetid early whale known from the late early Eocene (Lutetian, ) Harudi Formation (, paleocoordinates ) in Kutch, India. The holotype of is a partial skull in two pieces with the frontal shield and the right occiput a ...

** ''

Kharodacetus ''Kharodacetus'' is a genus of protocetid cetacean from the middle Eocene (late Lutetian, 42 mya) of Kutch, Gujarat, southwestern India. Description ''Kharodacetus'' is a large-sized protocetid with large premolars and a flat supraorbital shiel ...

'' ** ''

Maiacetus ''Maiacetus'' ("mother whale") is a genus of early middle Eocene (c. 47.5 mya) cetacean from the Habib Rahi Formation of Pakistan. Paleobiology The genus contains a single species, ''Maiacetus inuus'', first described in 2009 on the basis of ...

'' ** ''

Peregocetus ''Peregocetus'' is a genus of early whale that lived in what is now Peru during the Middle Eocene epoch. Its fossil was uncovered in 2011 in the Yumaque Formation of the Pisco Basin at Playa Media Luna by a team consisting of members from Bel ...

'' ** '' Protocetus'' ** ''

Qaisracetus ''Qaisracetus'' is an extinct protocetid early whale known from the Eocene (Lutetian, ) of Baluchistan, Pakistan (, paleocoordinates ). Etymology The genus is named after the Qaisrani Baloch tribe which assisted Gingerich and his team during ...

'' ** ''

Rodhocetus ''Rodhocetus'' (from ''Rodho'', the geological anticline at the type locality, and ''cetus'', Latin for whale) is an extinct genus of protocetid early whale known from the Lutetian of Pakistan. The best-known protocetid, ''Rodhocetus'' is known ...

'' ** '' Takracetus'' ** ''

Togocetus ''Togocetus'' (“Togo whale”) is a genus of extinct cetacean from the Lutetian (lower Eocene) of Togo, known from a fossilized skeleton discovered a few kilometers north-east of Lomé. Discovery and description The skeleton was found in a ph ...

Family
Remingtonocetidae Remingtonocetidae is a diverse family of early aquatic mammals of the order Cetacea. The family is named after paleocetologist Remington Kellogg. Description Remingtonocetids have long and narrow skulls with the external nare openings located ...

(Eocene) *''

Andrewsiphius ''Andrewsiphius'' is an extinct remingtonocetid early whale known from the Eocene (Lutetian, ) of Gujarat and Kutch, India and Balochistan, Pakistan. Discovery and naming The first specimen was collected by who described it as mandibular f ...

'' *'' Attockicetus'' *''

Dalanistes ''Dalanistes'' is an extinct genus of remingtonocetid early whale known from the late early Eocene (Lutetian, ) of Kutch, India and Punjab and Balochistan, Pakistan. ''Dalanistes'' is closely related to '' Remingtonocetus'' (the type genus ...

'' *''

Kutchicetus ''Kutchicetus'' is an extinct genus of early whale of the family Remingtonocetidae that lived during Early-Middle Eocene (Lutetian and Ypresian) in what is now the coastal border of Pakistan and India (, paleocoordinates ). It is closely relate ...

'' *'' Rayanistes'' *''

Remingtonocetus ''Remingtonocetus'' is an extinct genus of early cetacean freshwater aquatic mammals of the family Remingtonocetidae endemic to the coastline of the ancient Tethys Ocean during the Eocene. It was named after naturalist Remington Kellogg. History ...

Suborder Mysticeti

Family
Aetiocetidae Aetiocetidae is an extinct family of toothed baleen whales known from the Oligocene. The whales are from the North Pacific Ocean and ranged in size from long. Many of the described specimens were discovered from the Upper Oligocene of the Japa ...

(Oligocene) Aetiocetus BW

* ''

Aetiocetus ''Aetiocetus'' is a genus of extinct basal mysticete, or baleen whale that lived , in the Oligocene in the North Pacific ocean, around Japan, Mexico, and Oregon, U.S. It was first described by Douglas Emlong in 1966 and currently contains kn ...

'' * ''

Ashorocetus ''Ashorocetus'' is a monotypic genus of an extinct primitive baleen whale of the family Aetiocetidae. It was named by , and contains one species, ''A. eguchii''. Fossils of this whale are found from the Chattian Morawan formation, near Asho ...

'' * ''

Chonecetus ''Chonecetus'' is an extinct genus of primitive baleen whale of the family Aetiocetidae that lived in the Oligocene period. Its fossils have been found in Canada, in the northeast Pacific. It was first named by L.S. Russell in 1968, and conta ...

'' * ''

Fucaia ''Fucaia'' is an extinct genus of primitive baleen whale belonging to the family Aetiocetidae that is known from Oligocene marine deposits found in Vancouver Island, Canada and Olympic Island, Washington State. Taxonomy Two species, ''F. buell ...

'' * ''

Morawanocetus ''Morawanocetus'' is a genus of extinct primitive baleen whale from the family Aetiocetidae that existed during the Chattian stage of the Oligocene epoch. Its fossils have been found in the North Pacific. ''Morawanocetus'' was named by Bar ...

'' * '' Niparajacetus'' * ''

Salishicetus ''Salishicetus'' is an extinct genus of aetiocetid baleen whale from the Late Oligocene discovered in Washington state with one species: ''S. meadi''. Like other ancient baleen whales, ''Salishicetus'' had teeth, and used these for either sucti ...

'' * '' Willungacetus''

Family
Llanocetidae Llanocetidae is an extinct family of ancient toothed baleen whales from the Eocene. It was named by American paleontologist Edward Mitchell in 1989 after describing the Antarctic ''Llanocetus'', but a 2018 study by paleontologists Ewan Fordyce ...

(Late Eocene-Early Oligocene) * ''

Llanocetus ''Llanocetus'' ( "Llano's whale" ) is a genus of extinct toothed baleen whales from the Late Eocene of Antarctica. The type species, ''Llanocetus denticrenatus'', reached gigantic proportions, with the juvenile specimen reaching an estimated i ...

'' * ''

Mystacodon ''Mystacodon'' is a genus of toothed baleen whale from the Late Eocene Yumaque Formation of the Pisco Basin in southwestern Peru. It is the oldest known baleen whale, and was probably a suction feeder of small prey on the seafloor. Taxonomy ...

Family
Mammalodontidae Mammalodontidae is a family of extinct whales known from the Oligocene of Australia and New Zealand. There are currently two genera in this family: ''Janjucetus'' and ''Mammalodon''. After a new cladistic analysis by Fitzgerald (2010), ''Janjuce ...

(jr synonym Janjucetidae) Janjucetus Melb Museum email

(Late Oligocene) * ''

Janjucetus ''Janjucetus'' is an extinct genus of cetacean, and a basal baleen whale (Mysticeti), from the Late Oligocene around 25 million years ago (mya) off southeast Australia, containing one species ''J. hunderi''. Unlike modern mysticetes, it pos ...

'' * ''

Mammalodon ''Mammalodon'' is an extinct genus of archaic baleen whale belonging to the family Mammalodontidae. Taxonomy The fossils of ''Mammalodon'' were found to be around 25.7–23.9 million years old, dating to the Late Oligocene. The holotype for ...

Family ''incertae sedis''

* '' Borealodon'' * '' Coronodon''

Clade Chaeomysticeti

Family ''
incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''

* '' Horopeta'' * '' Maiabalaena'' * '' Sitsqwayk'' * '' Tlaxcallicetus'' * '' Toipahautea'' * '' Whakakai''

Superfamily Eomysticetoidea

=Family Cetotheriopsidae

= (Oligocene to Miocene) * '' Cetotheriopsis''

=Family Eomysticetidae

= (Oligocene to early Miocene) * '' Eomysticetus'' * '' Matapanui'' * '' Micromysticetus'' * '' Tohoraata'' * '' Tokarahia'' * ''

Waharoa Waharoa is a rural community in the Waikato Waikato () is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hami ...

'' * '' Yamatocetus''

=Family Aglaocetidae

= (Miocene) * ''

Aglaocetus ''Aglaocetus'' is a genus of extinct baleen whales known from the Miocene of Patagonia, the US Eastern Seaboard, Japan and the Low Countries. It was once considered a member of Cetotheriidae along with many other putative cetotheres, but was rec ...

Superfamily Balaenoidea

=Family Balaenidae

= (Miocene to Recent) * '' Antwerpibalaena'' * '' Archaeobalaena'' * ''Balaena'' ** '' Balaena affinis'' ** '' Balaena arcuata'' ** '' Balaena larteti'' ** '' Balaena macrocephalus'' ** '' Balaena montalionis'' ** '' Balaena ricei'' * ''

Balaenella ''Balaenella'' is an extinct genus of balaenid from the early Pliocene of the vicinity of Antwerp, Belgium. Its type species is ''Balaena brachyrhynchus''. Classification A cladistic analysis of Balaenidae places ''Balaenella'' as the sister ta ...

'' * ''

Balaenotus ''Balaenotus'' is an extinct genus of cetaceans from the Pliocene of Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlan ...

'' * ''

Balaenula ''Balaenula'' is an extinct genus of cetacean. Taxonomy Cladistic analyses of fossils and extant balaenids place ''Balaenula'' as the sister taxon of right whales in a clade separate from the bowhead whale. Fossil records This genus is known in ...

'' * ''Eubalaena'' (extant) ** ''

Eubalaena ianitrix Right whales are three species of large baleen whales of the genus ''Eubalaena'': the North Atlantic right whale (''E. glacialis''), the North Pacific right whale (''E. japonica'') and the Southern right whale (''E. australis''). They are class ...

'' ** ''

Eubalaena shinshuensis Right whales are three species of large baleen whales of the genus ''Eubalaena'': the North Atlantic right whale (''E. glacialis''), the North Pacific right whale (''E. japonica'') and the Southern right whale (''E. australis''). They are class ...

'' * ''

Idiocetus ''Idiocetus'' ("unique whale") is a genus of extinct cetaceans of the family Balaenidae. Discovery Fossils belonging to this genus were first found in Piacenzian (Upper Pliocene) strata near Montopoli in Val d'Arno, a town in Tuscany (central I ...

'' * '' Peripolocetus'' * '' Protobalaena''

=Family ''incertae sedis''

= * ''

Morenocetus ''Morenocetus'' is an extinct genus of primitive balaenid from the Early Miocene (Burdigalian and Colhuehuapian in the SALMA classification) Gaiman Formation of Patagonia, Argentina. Description ''Morenocetus'' is distinguished from more der ...

Clade Thalassotherii

* '' Cetotheriomorphus'' * '' Heterocetus'' * '' Imerocetus'' * '' Isocetus'' * '' Notiocetus'' * '' Otradnocetus'' * '' Palaeobalaena'' * '' Rhegnopsis''

=Family
Cetotheriidae Cetotheriidae is a family of baleen whales (parvorder Mysticeti). The family is known to have existed from the Late Oligocene to the Early Pleistocene before going extinct. Although some phylogenetic studies conducted by recovered the livin ...

= (Miocene - Pliocene) Classification follows Steeman (2007) unless otherwise noted. Cetotherium BW

* '' Brandtocetus'' * '' Cephalotropis'' * ''

Cetotherium ''Cetotherium'' ("whale beast") is an extinct genus of baleen whales from the family Cetotheriidae. Taxonomy The family Cetotheriidae and the genus ''Cetotherium'' (sensu lato) have been used as wastebaskets for all kinds of baleen whales, mo ...

'' * ''

Ciuciulea Ciuciulea is a village in Glodeni District, Moldova.Eucetotherium'' * '' Halicetus'' * ''

Herentalia ''Herentalia'' is a genus of cetotheriid Cetotheriidae is a family of baleen whales (parvorder Mysticeti). The family is known to have existed from the Late Oligocene to the Early Pleistocene before going extinct. Although some phylogenetic ...

'' * ''

Herpetocetus ''Herpetocetus'' is a genus of cetotheriid mysticete in the subfamily Herpetocetinae. Taxonomy There are four recognized species of ''Herpetocetus'': ''H. scaldiensis'', ''H. transatlanticus'',Whitmore, F.C., and L.G. Barnes. 2008. The Herpet ...

'' * '' Hibacetus'' * ''

Joumocetus ''Joumocetus'' is a genus of extinct baleen whale in the family Cetotheriidae containing the single species ''Joumocetus shimizui''. The species is known only from a partial skeleton found in Miocene age sediments of Japan. History and classifi ...

'' * '' Kurdalagonus'' * '' Metopocetus'' * '' Mithridatocetus'' * ''

Nannocetus ''Nannocetus'' is an extinct baleen whale belonging to the family Cetotheriidae. Description ''Nannocetus'' is a diminutive mysticete measuring 13 feet (4 meters) long. It is characterized by the ventral orientation (in posterior view) of the p ...

* '' Piscobalaena'' * '' Thinocetus'' * '' Titanocetus'' * '' Tiucetus'' * '' Vampalus'' * '' Zygiocetus''

=Family Diorocetidae

= (Miocene to Pliocene) * '' Amphicetus'' * '' Diorocetus'' * '' Plesiocetopsis'' * '' Uranocetus''

=Family
Neobalaenidae Neobalaenidae is a family of baleen whales (suborder Mysticeti) including the extant pygmy right whale. Although traditionally considered related to balaenids, a recent phylogenetic study by Fordyce and Marx (2013) recovered the living pygmy ri ...

= (Miocene to Recent) * ''

Miocaperea ''Miocaperea'' is an extinct genus of pygmy right whale from the Late Miocene Pisco Formation of Peru.

=Family
Pelocetidae Pelocetidae is an extinct family of baleen whales. Existed during the Miocene in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in th ...

= (Miocene) * '' Cophocetus'' * '' Parietobalaena'' * ''

Pelocetus ''Pelocetus'' is an extinct genus of baleen whale, belonging to the family Pelocetidae. Fossils have been found in Miocene-aged marine strata in North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost enti ...

=Family ''incertae sedis''

= * '' Isanacetus'' * '' Pinocetus'' * '' Mauicetus'' * '' Taikicetus'' * '' Tiphyocetus''

=Superfamily Balaenopteroidea

* '' Eobalaenoptera''

Family Balaenopteridae

(Miocene to Recent) * '' Archaebalaenoptera'' * ''

Balaenoptera ''Balaenoptera'' () is a genus of rorquals containing eight extant species. ''Balaenoptera'' comprises all but two of the extant species in its family (the humpback whale and gray whale); the genus is currently polyphyletic, with the two afore ...

'' (extant) ** '' Balaenoptera bertae'' ** '' Balaenoptera cephalus'' ** '' Balaenoptera colcloughi'' ** '' Balaenoptera davidsonii'' ** ''

Balaenoptera siberi Balaenoptera siberi is an extinct species of baleen whale from the Late Miocene, described by Pilleri and Pilleri in 1989, based on fossils found in the Pisco Formation of the Pisco Basin in southwestern Peru.Demeré et al., 2005, p.115 Descri ...

'' ** '' Balaenoptera sursiplana'' ** '' Balaenoptera taiwanica'' * '' "Balaenoptera" cortesii'' * '' "Balaenoptera" portisi'' * '' "Balaenoptera" ryani'' * '' Burtinopsis'' * '' Cetotheriophanes'' * '' Fragilicetus'' * ''

Incakujira ''Incakujira'' (meaning Inca whale) is a genus of rorqual whales that lived during the Late Miocene epoch in what are now the coasts of Peru, about 8 million to 7.3 million years ago. It contains a single species, ''Incakujira anillodefuego'', na ...

'' * '' Miobalaenoptera'' * '' Norrisanima'' * '' Nehalaennia'' * '' Parabalaenoptera'' * '' Plesiobalaenoptera'' * '' Plesiocetus'' * '' Praemegaptera'' * '' Protororqualus''

Family Eschrichtiidae

(Miocene to Recent) * '' Archaeschrichtius'' * ''

Eschrichtioides ''Eschrichtioides'' is an extinct genus of baleen whale known from the early Pliocene of northern Italy. Its type species, ''E. gastaldii'', had a complex taxonomic history, starting as a cetothere, then as an extinct member of ''Balaenoptera'' ...

'' * '' Gricetoides'' * '' Megapteropsis''

Family Tranatocetidae

* ''

Mesocetus ''Mesocetus'' is an extinct genus of baleen whale from the Miocene of Europe ( Antwerp, Belgium and Balkans). Description ''Mesocetus'' is similar to other tranatocetids in having rostral bones that override the frontals and contact the parieta ...

'' * '' Mixocetus'' * ''

Tranatocetus ''Tranatocetus'' is an extinct genus of mysticete from the late Miocene (Tortonian) of Jutland, Denmark. The type and only species is ''Tranatocetus argillarius''. Description ''Tranatocetus'' is similar to ''"Aulocetus" latus'', ''"Cetotheriu ...

Family ''
incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''

* '' Mioceta'' (''nomen dubium'') * '' Piscocetus'' * '' Siphonocetus'' (''nomen dubium'') * '' Tretulias'' (''nomen dubium'') * '' Ulias'' (''nomen dubium'')

Suborder Odontoceti

Basal forms

Family
Agorophiidae ''Agorophius'' is an extinct genus of toothed whale that lived during the Oligocene period, approximately , in the waters off what is now South Carolina. Taxonomy The holotype of ''Agorophius pygmaeus'', MCZ 8761, was first mentioned in an 1848 ...

(Early Oligocene) * '' Agorophius''

Family Ashleycetidae

(Early Oligocene) * '' Ashleycetus''

Family Patriocetidae

(Oligocene to Early Miocene) * '' Patriocetus''

Family Simocetidae

(Early Oligocene) * '' Simocetus''

Family
Xenorophidae Xenorophidae is an extinct family of odontocetes currently known from the Oligocene of the southeastern US. Known genera of xenorophids include '' Albertocetus'', '' Archaeodelphis'', ''Xenorophus ''Xenorophus'' is a genus of primitive odonto ...

(Late Oligocene) * '' Albertocetus'' * ''

Archaeodelphis ''Archaeodelphis'' is an extinct genus of primitive odontocete cetacean from late Oligocene ( Chattian) marine deposits in South Carolina, and belonging to the family Xenorophidae Xenorophidae is an extinct family of odontocetes currently kno ...

'' * '' Cotylocara'' * '' Echovenator'' * '' Inermorostrum'' * '' Mirocetus'' * ''

Xenorophus ''Xenorophus'' is a genus of primitive odontocete from late Oligocene ( Chattian) marine deposits in South Carolina belonging to Xenorophidae. Classification ''Xenorophus'' was originally described on the basis of a skull from the Chandler Bri ...

Family Inticetidae

* '' Inticetus'' * '' Phococetus''

Family Microzeuglodontidae

* '' Microzeuglodon''

Family Squaloziphiidae

(Late Oligocene to Early Miocene) * '' Squaloziphius'' * '' Yaquinacetus''

Family ''incertae sedis''

* '' Ankylorhiza'' * '' Agriocetus'' * '' Atropatenocetus'' * '' Ediscetus'' * '' Olympicetus'' * '' Saurocetus''

Superfamily Squalodontoidea

Family Dalpiazinidae

(Late Oligocene to Miocene) * '' Dalpiazina''

Family Prosqualodontidae

(Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene) * '' Parasqualodon'' * '' Prosqualodon''

Superfamily
Physeteroidea Physeteroidea is a superfamily that includes three extant species of whales: the sperm whale, in the genus ''Physeter'', and the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale, in the genus ''Kogia''. In the past, these genera have sometimes been unite ...

Family Kogiidae

(Miocene to recent) * '' Aprixokogia'' * ''Kogia'' (extant) ** ''

Kogia pusilla ''Kogia pusilla'' is an extinct species of sperm whale from the Middle Pliocene of Italy related to the modern day dwarf sperm whale (''K. sima'') and pygmy sperm whale (''K. breviceps''). It is known from a single skull discovered in 1877, a ...

'' * '' Kogiopsis'' * '' Koristocetus'' * '' Nanokogia'' * '' Pliokogia'' * '' Praekogia'' * '' Scaphokogia'' * '' Thalassocetus''

Family Physeteridae

* '' Ferecetotherium'' * '' Idiophyseter'' * ''

Idiorophus ''Idiorophus'' is a genus of toothed whales in the family Physeteridae. Fossils have been found in the Colhuehuapian Gaiman Formation of Argentina and the Libano Sandstone in Italy. The teeth of ''Idiorophus'' were similar in size to those of ...

'' * ''

Orycterocetus ''Orycteocetus'' is an extinct genus of sperm whale from the Miocene of the northern Atlantic Ocean. Classification ''Orycterocetus'' is a member of Physeteroidea closely related to crown-group sperm whales. The type species, ''O. quadratidens ...

'' * '' Physeterula'' * '' Placoziphius'' * '' Preaulophyseter'' * ''

Scaldicetus ''Scaldicetus'' is an extinct genus of highly predatory macroraptorial sperm whale. Although widely used for a number of extinct physeterids with primitive dental morphology consisting of enameled teeth, ''Scaldicetus'' as generally recognized ...

Family incertae sedis

* ''

Acrophyseter ''Acrophyseter'' is a genus of extinct sperm whales that lived in the Late Miocene off the coast of Peru comprising two species: ''A. deinodon'' and ''A. robustus''. It is part of a group of macroraptorial sperm whales which all shared several ...

'' * ''

Albicetus ''Albicetus'' is a genus of stem-sperm whales that lived during the Miocene Epoch, around 15 million years ago, and was discovered in Santa Barbara, California in 1909. It was categorized for decades as belonging to a group of extinct walruses e ...

'' * ''

Aulophyseter ''Aulophyseter'' is an extinct genus of sperm whales from the Miocene formations of the west and east coasts of North America. ''Aulophyseter'' reached a length of approximately with an estimated body weight of .R. Nieuwenhuys (1998) ''The cent ...

'' * ''

Brygmophyseter ''Brygmophyseter'', known as the biting sperm whale, is an extinct genus of toothed whale in the sperm whale family with one species, ''B. shigensis''. When it was first described in 1994, the species was placed in the genus ''Scaldicetus'' b ...

'' * '' Diaphorocetus'' * '' Eudelphis'' * '' Hoplocetus'' (''nomen dubium'') * ''

Livyatan ''Livyatan'' is an extinct genus of macroraptorial sperm whale containing one known species: ''L. melvillei''. The genus name was inspired by the biblical sea monster Leviathan, and the species name by Herman Melville, the author of the famous ...

'' * '' Miokogia'' (''nomen dubium'') * '' Paleophoca'' (''nomen dubium'') * '' Prophyseter'' (''nomen dubium'') * ''

Zygophyseter ''Zygophyseter varolai'' is an extinct sperm whale that lived during the Tortonian age of the Late Miocene 11.2 to 7.6 million years ago. It is known from a single specimen from the Pietra Leccese Formation in Italy. It was a member of a stem ...

Superfamily " Eurhinodelphinoidea"

Family Argyrocetidae

(Late Oligocene to Early Miocene) * '' Argyrocetus'' * ''

Chilcacetus ''Chilcacetus'' is an extinct genus of primitive odontocete known from Early Miocene (Aquitanian age, Aquitanian) of Peru. Fossils were found in and named after the Chilcatay Formation of the Pisco Basin.Macrodelphinus ''Macrodelphinus'' is an extinct genus of primitive odontocete known from Late Oligocene (Chattian) marine deposits in California. Biology ''Macrodelphinus'' was an orca-sized odontocete similar to members of Eurhinodelphinidae in having a sword ...

Family Eoplatanistidae

(Miocene) * '' Eoplatanista''

Family
Eurhinodelphinidae Eurhinodelphinidae is an extinct family of toothed whales which lived from the Oligocene to the Miocene. Members of the family possessed an elongated jaw similar in appearance to a swordfish. Taxonomy *Family Eurhinodelphinidae **'' Ceterhinop ...

(Late Oligocene to Late Miocene) Macrodelphinus kelloggi

* '' Ceterhinops'' * ''

Eurhinodelphis ''Eurhinodelphis'' ("well-nosed dolphin") is an extinct genus of Miocene cetacean. Its fossils have been found in Belgium, France, and Maryland. Species Currently-valid species are: * ''E. cocheuteuxi'' * ''E. longirostris'' Former species inc ...

'' * '' Iniopsis'' * '' Mycteriacetus'' * '' Phocaenopsis'' * '' Schizodelphis'' * '' Vanbreenia'' * ''

Xiphiacetus ''Xiphiacetus'' is an extinct genus of cetacean known from the Miocene (early Burdigalian to late Tortonian, of Europe and the U.S. East Coast. described ''Priscodelphinus cristatus'' based on partial and poorly preserved skulls with extremely ...

'' * '' Ziphiodelphis''

Superfamily
Platanistoidea River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. Extant riv ...

* '' Aondelphis'' * '' Awamokoa'' * '' Dolgopolis'' * '' Ensidelphis'' * '' Perditicetus'' * '' Urkudelphis''

Family Allodelphinidae

(Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene) * ''

Allodelphis ''Allodelphis'' is an extinct genus of whale belonging to Allodelphinidae found in marine deposits of the eastern North Pacific. Description ''Allodelphis'' has a very elongated rostrum and a polydont, heterodont dentition. It differs from ' ...

'' * '' Arktocara'' * '' Goedertius'' * '' Ninjadelphis'' * '' Zarhinocetus'' Arktocara NT small

Family Platanistidae

(Early Miocene to Recent) * '' Araeodelphis'' * '' Dilophodelphis'' * '' Pachyacanthus'' * '' Pomatodelphis'' * '' Prepomatodelphis'' * '' Zarhachis''

Family Squalodelphinidae

(Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene) * '' Furcadelphis'' * '' Huaridelphis'' * '' Macrosqualodelphis'' * '' Medocinia'' * '' Notocetus'' * '' Phocageneus'' * '' Squalodelphis''

Family
Squalodontidae Squalodontidae or the shark-toothed dolphins is an extinct family of large toothed whales who had long narrow jaws. Squalodontids are known from all continents except Antarctica, from the Oligocene to the Neogene, but they had a maximal diversi ...

(Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene) * '' Austrosqualodon'' * ''

Eosqualodon ''Eosqualodon'' is a genus of squalodontid odontocete from the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene (Chattian-Aquitanian) of northwestern Germany and northeastern Italy. Taxonomy and description Two species are recognized, ''E. langewieschei'' and ' ...

'' * '' Macrophoca'' * '' Neosqualodon'' * '' Pachyodon'' * ''

Phoberodon ''Phoberodon'' is a genus of archaic odontocete cetacean from the Early Miocene (Burdigalian) of Patagonia, Argentina. Taxonomy and description ''Phoberodon'' was described in 1926 from a partially complete skeleton lacking the earbones, whic ...

'' * ''

Squalodon ''Squalodon'' is an extinct genus of whales of the Oligocene and Miocene epochs, belonging to the family Squalodontidae. Named by Jean-Pierre Sylvestre de Grateloup in 1840, it was originally believed to be an iguanodontid dinosaur but has sinc ...

'' (syn. ''Kelloggia'', ''Rhizoprion'', ''Crenidelphinus'', ''Arionius'', ''Phocodon'') * '' Smilocamptus'' * ''

Tangaroasaurus ''Tangaroasaurus'' is an extinct genus of squalodontid whale from the Miocene of New Zealand. It contains a single species, ''Tangaroasaurus kakanuiensis''. Similar to ''Basilosaurus'' and its close relative ''Squalodon'', it was originally tho ...

Family Waipatiidae

(Late Oligocene to Early Miocene) * ?'' Microcetus'' * '' Otekaikea'' * '' Papahu'' * '' Sachalinocetus'' * ''

Waipatia ''Waipatia'' is an extinct genus of whale from the late Oligocene (Chattian) of New Zealand. Taxonomy The type species, ''Waipatia maerewhenua'' is known from a single skull found near 45° South in Otago . The second species, ''W. hectori ...

Superfamily Ziphioidea

Family
Ziphiidae Beaked whales (systematic name Ziphiidae) are a family of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three or four of the 24 species are reasonably well-kn ...

(Miocene to Recent) * Basal forms ** '' Aporotus'' ** '' Beneziphius'' ** '' Chavinziphius'' ** '' Chimuziphius'' ** '' Choneziphius'' ** ''

Dagonodum ''Dagonodum'' is an extinct genus of ziphiid cetacean known from Tortonian age marine deposits in the Gram Formation in Denmark. There is only one known species, ''Dagonodum mojnum''. Etymology The genus name is a reference to the god Dagon, ...

'' ** '' Globicetus'' ** ''

Imocetus ''Imocetus'' is an extinct genus of ziphiid cetaceans, with one species, ''G. piscatus'', from the Miocene of Portugal and Spain.Bianucci G., Miján I, Lambert O., Post K. & Mateus O. 2013. Bizarre fossil beaked whales (Odontoceti, Ziphiidae) fi ...

'' ** ''

Messapicetus ''Messapicetus'' is an extinct genus of beaked whale from the Late Miocene. It currently holds two species, ''M. longirostris'' from the Tortonian of Italy and ''M. gregarius'' from the Pisco Formation of Peru. However, a third unnamed species is ...

'' ** '' Ninoziphius'' ** '' Notoziphius'' ** ''

Tusciziphius ''Tusciziphius'' is an extinct genus of ziphiid cetaceans. The distribution includes the Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist ...

'' ** '' Ziphirostrum'' * Subfamily Berardiinae ** '' Archaeoziphius'' ** '' Microberardius'' * Subfamily

Hyperoodontinae Beaked whales (systematic name Ziphiidae) are a family of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three or four of the 24 species are reasonably well-k ...

** '' Africanacetus'' ** '' Belemnoziphius'' ** '' Ihlengesi'' ** '' Khoikhoicetus'' ** ''Mesoplodon'' (extant) *** '' Mesoplodon posti'' *** '' Mesoplodon slangkopi'' *** '' Mesoplodon tumidirostris'' ** '' Nenga'' ** '' Pterocetus'' ** '' Xhosacetus'' * Subfamily Ziphiinae ** '' Caviziphius'' ** '' Izikoziphius'' ** '' Nazcacetus'' * Subfamily

incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...

** '' Anoplonassa'' ** '' Cetorhynchus'' ** '' Eboroziphius'' ** '' Pelycorhamphus''

Clade Delphinida

Family incertae sedis

* ''

Anacharsis Anacharsis (; grc, Ἀνάχαρσις) was a Scythian philosopher; he travelled from his homeland on the northern shores of the Black Sea, to Ancient Athens, in the early 6th century BC, and made a great impression as a forthright and outspok ...

'' * '' Belonodelphis'' * '' Delphinavus'' * '' Graamocetus'' * '' Hadrodelphis'' * '' Lamprolithax'' * '' Leptodelphis'' * '' Liolithax'' * ''

Lophocetus ''Lophocetus'' ("crested whale") is an extinct genus of dolphin belonging to the clade Delphinida that is known from late Miocene (Tortonian) marine deposits in California and Maryland. Although usually placed in Kentriodontidae, recent studies h ...

'' * '' Loxolithax'' * '' Macrokentriodon'' * '' Microphocaena'' * '' Miodelphis'' * '' Nannolithax'' * '' Oedolithax'' * '' Oligodelphis'' * '' Palaeophocaena'' * '' Pithanodelphis'' * '' Platylithax'' * '' Prionodelphis'' * '' Protodelphinus'' * '' Sarmatodelphis'' * '' Sophianacetus'' * '' Tagicetus''

Superfamily
Delphinoidea Delphinoidea is the largest group of toothed whales with 66 genera in 6 families. The largest living member of the superfamily is the killer whale, which can reach 6 tons, while the smallest is the vaquita. Taxonomy Based on McGowen ''et al''., ...

=Family
Albireonidae Albireonidae is a monotypic group of extinct porpoise-like whales containing the single genus ''Albireo Albireo is a double star designated Beta Cygni (β Cygni, abbreviated Beta Cyg, β Cyg). The International Astronomical Unio ...

= (Miocene to Pliocene) * ''

Albireo Albireo is a double star designated Beta Cygni (β Cygni, abbreviated Beta Cyg, β Cyg). The International Astronomical Union uses the name "Albireo" specifically for the brightest star in the system. Although designated ' beta', ...

=Family
Delphinidae Oceanic dolphins or Delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. Close to forty extant species are recognised. They include several big species whose common names contain "whale" rather than "dolphin", such as the ...

(Oligocene to Recent) * '' Arimidelphis'' * '' Astadelphis'' * '' Australodelphis'' * ''Delphinus'' (extant) ** '' Delphinus domeykoi'' * ''

Eodelphinus ''Eodelphinus'' is an extinct genus of oceanic dolphins belonging to the family Delphinidae. Description ''Eodelphinus'' differs from all other delphinids by having a medially positioned premaxillary foramen, a partially transversely directed su ...

'' * '' Etruridelphis'' * ''

Hemisyntrachelus ''Hemisyntrachelus'' is an extinct genus of cetacean.''Hemisyntrachelus''
at ...

'' * ''Lagenorhynchus'' (extant) ** '' Lagenorhynchus harmatuki'' * '' Norisdelphis'' * ''Globicephala'' (extant) ** '' Globicephala baereckeii'' ** '' Globicephala etruriae'' * ''Orcinus'' (extant) ** ''

Orcinus citoniensis ''Orcinus citoniensis'' is an extinct species of killer whale identified in the Late Pliocene of Italy and the Early Pleistocene of England. It was smaller than the modern killer whale (''O. orca''), versus , and had around 8 more teeth in its ...

'' ** ''

Orcinus meyeri ''Orcinus meyeri'' is a fossil species of ''Orcinus'' (killer whales) found in the Early Miocene deposits of southern Germany, known from two jaw fragments and 18 isolated teeth. It was originally described as ''Delphinus acutidens'' in 1859, bu ...

'' ** ''

Orcinus paleorca ''Orcinus paleorca'' is a fossil species of ''Orcinus'', the genus of killer whales (orca), dated to the Middle Pleistocene. The only known specimen is a tooth fragment discovered in Honshu, Japan. Taxonomy The holotype specimen, a tooth fragmen ...

'' * '' Platalearostrum'' * '' Protoglobicephala'' * ''Pseudorca'' (extant) ** '' Pseudorca yokoyamai'' ** '' Pseudorca yuanliensis'' * '' Septidelphis'' * '' Sinanodelphis'' * ''Stenella'' (extant) ** '' Stenella rayi'' * ''Tursiops'' (extant) ** '' Tursiops miocaenus'' ** '' Tursiops osennae''

=Family
Kentriodontidae Kentriodontidae is an extinct family of odontocete whales related to modern dolphins. The Kentriodontidae lived from the Oligocene to the Pliocene before going extinct. Taxonomy Kentriodontids have been variously divided into three or four sub ...

= (Oligocene to Pliocene) Kentriodon BW

* '' Kampholophos'' * '' Kentriodon'' * '' Rudicetus'' * '' Sophianaecetus'' * '' Wimahl'' * '' Belonodelphis''? * '' Liolithax''?

=Family
Monodontidae The cetacean family Monodontidae comprises two living whale species, the narwhal and the beluga whale and at least four extinct species, known from the fossil record. Beluga and Narwhal are native to coastal regions and pack ice around the Arctic ...

= (Miocene to Recent) * ''

Bohaskaia ''Bohaskaia'' is an extinct genus of beluga-like odontocete cetacean known from the Early Pliocene of Virginia and North Carolina, United States. It was first named by Jorge Vélez-Juarbe and Nicholas D. Pyenson in 2012 and the type species I ...

'' * ''

Casatia ''Casatia'' is a genus of extinct cetacean from the Early Pliocene, approximately between 5.1 and 4.5 million years ago. The genus contains a single species, ''C. thermophila''. It was described from a partial skull. Its closest relatives are t ...

'' * ''

Denebola Denebola is the second-brightest star in the zodiac constellation of Leo.The two components of the γ Leonis double star, which are unresolved to the naked eye, have a combined magnitude brighter than it. It has the Bayer designatio ...

'' * '' Haborodelphis''

=Family Odobenocetopsidae

= (Late Miocene to Early Pliocene) Odobenocetops BW

* ''

Odobenocetops ''Odobenocetops'' () is an extinct genus of small toothed whale known from Peru and Chile. Its fossils are found in Neogene-aged marine strata dating from the Tortonian to the Zanclean. It had two tusks, and, in some fossils, one tusk was longer t ...

=Family
Phocoenidae Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals ...

= (Miocene to Recent) * '' Archaeophocaena'' * '' Australithax'' * '' Brabocetus'' * '' Harborophocoena'' * '' Lomacetus'' * '' Miophocaena'' * '' Numataphocoena'' * '' Piscolithax'' * '' Pterophocaena'' * '' Salumiphocaena'' * '' Semirostrum'' * '' Septemtriocetus''

Superfamily
Inioidea River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. Extant riv ...

* '' Awadelphis'' * ''

Brujadelphis ''Brujadelphis'' is an extinct genus of river dolphin-like cetaceans of uncertain family placement from the Late Miocene epoch (Serravallian) of present-day Peru. The type species is ''Brujadelphis ankylorostris'', recovered from the Pisco Format ...

'' * '' Incacetus'' * '' Meherrinia''

=Family
Iniidae Iniidae is a family of river dolphins containing one living genus, ''Inia'', and four extinct genera. The extant genus inhabits the river basins of South America, but the family formerly had a wider presence across the Atlantic Ocean. Iniidae a ...

= (Miocene to Recent) * ''

Goniodelphis ''Goniodelphis hudsoni'' is an extinct iniid river dolphin known from the waters of Florida during the Miocene ~14.9—11.5 through 9.1—8.7 Ma ( AEO). The fossil specimens were found in just four phosphate mines in Polk County, Florida. These ...

'' * '' Hesperoinia'' * '' Ischyrorhynchus'' * ''

Isthminia ''Isthminia'' is an extinct genus of river dolphin-like cetacean from the Late Miocene epoch ( Hemphillian in the NALMA classification) that lived in Panama. The type species is ''I. panamensis''.Kwanzacetus'' * '' Saurocetes''

=Family Pontoporiidae

= (Middle Miocene to Recent) * '' Atocetus'' * ''

Auroracetus ''Auroracetus'', from ''Aurora'' (the location the holotype was discovered, Aurora N.C.) and the Latin ''cetus'' (whale), is a genus of Pontoporiidae, the river dolphins, and contains one extinct species. The species ''Auroracetus bakerae'' was p ...

'' * '' Brachydelphis'' * '' Pliopontos'' * '' Pontistes'' * '' Protophocaena'' * '' Scaldiporia'' * '' Stenasodelphis''

Superfamily
Lipotoidea Lipotidae is a family of river dolphins containing the possibly extinct baiji of China and the fossil genus ''Parapontoporia'' from the Late Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific coast of North America. The genus '' Prolipotes'', which is based ...

=Family
Lipotidae Lipotidae is a family of river dolphins containing the possibly extinct baiji of China and the fossil genus ''Parapontoporia'' from the Late Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific coast of North America. The genus '' Prolipotes'', which is based on ...

= (Late Miocene to Recent) * ''

Parapontoporia ''Parapontoporia'' is an extinct genus of dolphin that lived off the Californian coast from the Late Miocene until the genus' extinction during the Pliocene. It is related to the baiji The baiji (; IPA: ; ''Lipotes vexillifer'', ''Lipotes'' ...

Superfamily ''incertae sedis''

* '' Delphinodon'' * '' Heterodelphis''

Family ''
incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''

* '' Acrodelphis'' * '' Champsodelphis'' * '' Hesperocetus'' * '' Imerodelphis'' (Miocene) * '' Kharthlidelphis'' * '' Lonchodelphis'' * '' Macrochirifer'' * '' Microsqualodon'' * '' Pelodelphis'' * '' Rhabdosteus'' (''nomen dubium'') * '' Sulakocetus''

References

{{Mammal lists * Extinct Cetaceans, extinct Cetaceans Cetaceans, extinct

Suborder Archaeoceti Archaeoceti ("ancient whales"), or Zeuglodontes in older literature, is a paraphyletic group of primitive cetaceans that lived from the Early Eocene to the late Oligocene (). Representing the earliest cetacean radiation, they include the initial ...

Family Ambulocetidae Ambulocetidae is a family of early cetaceans from Pakistan. The genus '' Ambulocetus'', after which the family is named, is by far the most complete and well-known ambulocetid genus due to the excavation of an 80% complete specimen of ''Ambulocet ...

Family Basilosauridae Basilosauridae is a family of extinct cetaceans. They lived during the middle to the early late Eocene and are known from all continents, including Antarctica. They were probably the first fully aquatic cetaceans.Buono M, Fordyce R.E., Marx F.G. ...

Family Kekenodontidae

Family Pakicetid Pakicetidae ("Pakistani whales") is an extinct family of Archaeoceti (early whales) that lived during the Early Eocene in Pakistan. Description described the first pakicetid, ''Ichthyolestes'', but at the time they did not recognize it as a cet ...ae

Family Protocetidae Protocetidae, the protocetids, form a diverse and heterogeneous group of extinct cetaceans known from Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. Description There were many genera, and some of these are very well known (e.g., '' R ...

Family Remingtonocetidae Remingtonocetidae is a diverse family of early aquatic mammals of the order Cetacea. The family is named after paleocetologist Remington Kellogg. Description Remingtonocetids have long and narrow skulls with the external nare openings located ...

Suborder Mysticeti

Family Aetiocetidae Aetiocetidae is an extinct family of toothed baleen whales known from the Oligocene. The whales are from the North Pacific Ocean and ranged in size from long. Many of the described specimens were discovered from the Upper Oligocene of the Japa ...

Family Llanocetidae Llanocetidae is an extinct family of ancient toothed baleen whales from the Eocene. It was named by American paleontologist Edward Mitchell in 1989 after describing the Antarctic ''Llanocetus'', but a 2018 study by paleontologists Ewan Fordyce ...

Family Mammalodontidae Mammalodontidae is a family of extinct whales known from the Oligocene of Australia and New Zealand. There are currently two genera in this family: ''Janjucetus'' and ''Mammalodon''. After a new cladistic analysis by Fitzgerald (2010), ''Janjuce ...

Family ''incertae sedis''

Clade Chaeomysticeti

Family ''incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...''

Superfamily Eomysticetoidea

=Family Cetotheriopsidae

=Family Eomysticetidae

=Family Aglaocetidae

Superfamily Balaenoidea

=Family Balaenidae

=Family ''incertae sedis''

Clade Thalassotherii

=Family Cetotheriidae Cetotheriidae is a family of baleen whales (parvorder Mysticeti). The family is known to have existed from the Late Oligocene to the Early Pleistocene before going extinct. Although some phylogenetic studies conducted by recovered the livin ...

=Family Diorocetidae

=Family Neobalaenidae Neobalaenidae is a family of baleen whales (suborder Mysticeti) including the extant pygmy right whale. Although traditionally considered related to balaenids, a recent phylogenetic study by Fordyce and Marx (2013) recovered the living pygmy ri ...

=Family

=Family ''incertae sedis''

=Superfamily Balaenopteroidea

Family ''incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...''

Suborder Odontoceti

Basal forms

Family Agorophiidae ''Agorophius'' is an extinct genus of toothed whale that lived during the Oligocene period, approximately , in the waters off what is now South Carolina. Taxonomy The holotype of ''Agorophius pygmaeus'', MCZ 8761, was first mentioned in an 1848 ...

Family Ashleycetidae

Family Patriocetidae

Family Simocetidae

Family Xenorophidae Xenorophidae is an extinct family of odontocetes currently known from the Oligocene of the southeastern US. Known genera of xenorophids include '' Albertocetus'', '' Archaeodelphis'', ''Xenorophus ''Xenorophus'' is a genus of primitive odonto ...

Family Inticetidae

Family Microzeuglodontidae

Family Squaloziphiidae

Family ''incertae sedis''

Superfamily Squalodontoidea

Family Dalpiazinidae

Family Prosqualodontidae

Superfamily Physeteroidea Physeteroidea is a superfamily that includes three extant species of whales: the sperm whale, in the genus ''Physeter'', and the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale, in the genus ''Kogia''. In the past, these genera have sometimes been unite ...

Family Kogiidae

Family Physeteridae

Family incertae sedis

Superfamily " Eurhinodelphinoidea"

Family Argyrocetidae

Family Eoplatanistidae

Family Eurhinodelphinidae Eurhinodelphinidae is an extinct family of toothed whales which lived from the Oligocene to the Miocene. Members of the family possessed an elongated jaw similar in appearance to a swordfish. Taxonomy *Family Eurhinodelphinidae **'' Ceterhinop ...

Superfamily Platanistoidea River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. Extant riv ...

Family Allodelphinidae

Family Platanistidae

Family Squalodelphinidae

Family Squalodontidae Squalodontidae or the shark-toothed dolphins is an extinct family of large toothed whales who had long narrow jaws. Squalodontids are known from all continents except Antarctica, from the Oligocene to the Neogene, but they had a maximal diversi ...

Family Waipatiidae

Superfamily Ziphioidea

Family Ziphiidae Beaked whales (systematic name Ziphiidae) are a family of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three or four of the 24 species are reasonably well-kn ...

Clade Delphinida

Family incertae sedis

Superfamily Delphinoidea Delphinoidea is the largest group of toothed whales with 66 genera in 6 families. The largest living member of the superfamily is the killer whale, which can reach 6 tons, while the smallest is the vaquita. Taxonomy Based on McGowen ''et al''., ...

=Family Albireonidae Albireonidae is a monotypic group of extinct porpoise-like whales containing the single genus ''Albireo Albireo is a double star designated Beta Cygni (β Cygni, abbreviated Beta Cyg, β Cyg). The International Astronomical Unio ...

=Family Delphinidae Oceanic dolphins or Delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. Close to forty extant species are recognised. They include several big species whose common names contain "whale" rather than "dolphin", such as the ...

=Family Kentriodontidae Kentriodontidae is an extinct family of odontocete whales related to modern dolphins. The Kentriodontidae lived from the Oligocene to the Pliocene before going extinct. Taxonomy Kentriodontids have been variously divided into three or four sub ...

=Family Monodontidae The cetacean family Monodontidae comprises two living whale species, the narwhal and the beluga whale and at least four extinct species, known from the fossil record. Beluga and Narwhal are native to coastal regions and pack ice around the Arctic ...

=Family Odobenocetopsidae

=Family Phocoenidae Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals ...

Superfamily Inioidea River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. Extant riv ...

=Family Iniidae Iniidae is a family of river dolphins containing one living genus, ''Inia'', and four extinct genera. The extant genus inhabits the river basins of South America, but the family formerly had a wider presence across the Atlantic Ocean. Iniidae a ...

=Family Pontoporiidae

Superfamily Lipotoidea Lipotidae is a family of river dolphins containing the possibly extinct baiji of China and the fossil genus ''Parapontoporia'' from the Late Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific coast of North America. The genus '' Prolipotes'', which is based ...

=Family Lipotidae Lipotidae is a family of river dolphins containing the possibly extinct baiji of China and the fossil genus ''Parapontoporia'' from the Late Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific coast of North America. The genus '' Prolipotes'', which is based on ...

Superfamily ''incertae sedis''

Family ''incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...''

See also

References

Suborder
Archaeoceti Archaeoceti ("ancient whales"), or Zeuglodontes in older literature, is a paraphyletic group of primitive cetaceans that lived from the Early Eocene to the late Oligocene (). Representing the earliest cetacean radiation, they include the initial ...

Family
Ambulocetidae Ambulocetidae is a family of early cetaceans from Pakistan. The genus '' Ambulocetus'', after which the family is named, is by far the most complete and well-known ambulocetid genus due to the excavation of an 80% complete specimen of ''Ambulocet ...

Family
Basilosauridae Basilosauridae is a family of extinct cetaceans. They lived during the middle to the early late Eocene and are known from all continents, including Antarctica. They were probably the first fully aquatic cetaceans.Buono M, Fordyce R.E., Marx F.G. ...

Family
Pakicetid Pakicetidae ("Pakistani whales") is an extinct family of Archaeoceti (early whales) that lived during the Early Eocene in Pakistan. Description described the first pakicetid, ''Ichthyolestes'', but at the time they did not recognize it as a cet ...
ae

Family
Protocetidae Protocetidae, the protocetids, form a diverse and heterogeneous group of extinct cetaceans known from Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. Description There were many genera, and some of these are very well known (e.g., '' R ...

Family
Remingtonocetidae Remingtonocetidae is a diverse family of early aquatic mammals of the order Cetacea. The family is named after paleocetologist Remington Kellogg. Description Remingtonocetids have long and narrow skulls with the external nare openings located ...

Family
Aetiocetidae Aetiocetidae is an extinct family of toothed baleen whales known from the Oligocene. The whales are from the North Pacific Ocean and ranged in size from long. Many of the described specimens were discovered from the Upper Oligocene of the Japa ...

Family
Llanocetidae Llanocetidae is an extinct family of ancient toothed baleen whales from the Eocene. It was named by American paleontologist Edward Mitchell in 1989 after describing the Antarctic ''Llanocetus'', but a 2018 study by paleontologists Ewan Fordyce ...

Family
Mammalodontidae Mammalodontidae is a family of extinct whales known from the Oligocene of Australia and New Zealand. There are currently two genera in this family: ''Janjucetus'' and ''Mammalodon''. After a new cladistic analysis by Fitzgerald (2010), ''Janjuce ...

Family ''
incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''

=Family
Cetotheriidae Cetotheriidae is a family of baleen whales (parvorder Mysticeti). The family is known to have existed from the Late Oligocene to the Early Pleistocene before going extinct. Although some phylogenetic studies conducted by recovered the livin ...

=Family
Neobalaenidae Neobalaenidae is a family of baleen whales (suborder Mysticeti) including the extant pygmy right whale. Although traditionally considered related to balaenids, a recent phylogenetic study by Fordyce and Marx (2013) recovered the living pygmy ri ...

=Family
Pelocetidae Pelocetidae is an extinct family of baleen whales. Existed during the Miocene in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in th ...

Family ''
incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''

Family
Agorophiidae ''Agorophius'' is an extinct genus of toothed whale that lived during the Oligocene period, approximately , in the waters off what is now South Carolina. Taxonomy The holotype of ''Agorophius pygmaeus'', MCZ 8761, was first mentioned in an 1848 ...

Family
Xenorophidae Xenorophidae is an extinct family of odontocetes currently known from the Oligocene of the southeastern US. Known genera of xenorophids include '' Albertocetus'', '' Archaeodelphis'', ''Xenorophus ''Xenorophus'' is a genus of primitive odonto ...

Superfamily
Physeteroidea Physeteroidea is a superfamily that includes three extant species of whales: the sperm whale, in the genus ''Physeter'', and the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale, in the genus ''Kogia''. In the past, these genera have sometimes been unite ...

Family
Eurhinodelphinidae Eurhinodelphinidae is an extinct family of toothed whales which lived from the Oligocene to the Miocene. Members of the family possessed an elongated jaw similar in appearance to a swordfish. Taxonomy *Family Eurhinodelphinidae **'' Ceterhinop ...

Superfamily
Platanistoidea River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. Extant riv ...

Family
Squalodontidae Squalodontidae or the shark-toothed dolphins is an extinct family of large toothed whales who had long narrow jaws. Squalodontids are known from all continents except Antarctica, from the Oligocene to the Neogene, but they had a maximal diversi ...

Family
Ziphiidae Beaked whales (systematic name Ziphiidae) are a family of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three or four of the 24 species are reasonably well-kn ...

Superfamily
Delphinoidea Delphinoidea is the largest group of toothed whales with 66 genera in 6 families. The largest living member of the superfamily is the killer whale, which can reach 6 tons, while the smallest is the vaquita. Taxonomy Based on McGowen ''et al''., ...

=Family
Albireonidae Albireonidae is a monotypic group of extinct porpoise-like whales containing the single genus ''Albireo Albireo is a double star designated Beta Cygni (β Cygni, abbreviated Beta Cyg, β Cyg). The International Astronomical Unio ...

=Family
Delphinidae Oceanic dolphins or Delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. Close to forty extant species are recognised. They include several big species whose common names contain "whale" rather than "dolphin", such as the ...

=Family
Kentriodontidae Kentriodontidae is an extinct family of odontocete whales related to modern dolphins. The Kentriodontidae lived from the Oligocene to the Pliocene before going extinct. Taxonomy Kentriodontids have been variously divided into three or four sub ...

=Family
Monodontidae The cetacean family Monodontidae comprises two living whale species, the narwhal and the beluga whale and at least four extinct species, known from the fossil record. Beluga and Narwhal are native to coastal regions and pack ice around the Arctic ...

=Family
Phocoenidae Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals ...

Superfamily
Inioidea River dolphins are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or brackish water. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. Extant riv ...

=Family
Iniidae Iniidae is a family of river dolphins containing one living genus, ''Inia'', and four extinct genera. The extant genus inhabits the river basins of South America, but the family formerly had a wider presence across the Atlantic Ocean. Iniidae a ...

Superfamily
Lipotoidea Lipotidae is a family of river dolphins containing the possibly extinct baiji of China and the fossil genus ''Parapontoporia'' from the Late Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific coast of North America. The genus '' Prolipotes'', which is based ...

=Family
Lipotidae Lipotidae is a family of river dolphins containing the possibly extinct baiji of China and the fossil genus ''Parapontoporia'' from the Late Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific coast of North America. The genus '' Prolipotes'', which is based on ...

Family ''
incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''