Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 17, 2026

Placoziphius

Placoziphius is an extinct genus of toothed whales that belongs to the subfamily Physeterinae. It lived in Belgium during the Miocene epoch.

Last revised
Jun 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
170 w
Citations
6
Source
Placoziphius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Placentalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Physeteridae
Subfamily: Physeterinae
Genus: Placoziphius
van Beneden, 1869
Species:
P. duboisi
Binomial name
Placoziphius duboisi
van Beneden, 1869

Placoziphius is an extinct genus of toothed whales that belongs to the subfamily Physeterinae. It lived in Belgium during the Miocene epoch.123

It is larger than all known kogiid species and was similar in size to Diaphorocetus and the smallest specimens of Orycterocetus.1

Discovery

Remains of this genus were first uncovered in Belgium south to Antwerp from the Berchem formation in the Edegem Sands member.1

The holotype specimen (IRSNB M.530) consist of a fragmentary skull. This included most of the rostrum, fragments of the supraorbital processes and of the supracranial basin, the two squamosal and exoccipital sets, and an associated fragment of atlas.1

References

References

  1. Lambert, Olivier. (2008). Sperm whales from the Miocene of the North Sea: A re-appraisal. Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belqique, Sciences de la Terre. 78. 277-316.
  2. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id747697/
  3. "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2026-03-22.