Saghacetus

Saghacetus
Temporal range:
Skull of Saghacetus osiris at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris
Life restoration
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Whippomorpha
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Basilosauridae
Subfamily: Dorudontinae
Genus: Saghacetus
Gingerich, 1992
Type species
Saghacetus osiris
Gingerich, 1992
Synonyms
  • Dorudon elliotsmithii
  • D. sensitivus
  • D. zitteli
  • Zeuglodon elliotsmithii
  • Z. sensitivius
  • Z. sensitivus
  • Z. zitteli

Saghacetus is an extinct genus of basilosaurid early whale, fossils of which have been found in the Upper Eocene (middle Priabonian, 37.2 to 33.9 million years ago) Qasr el Sagha Formation, Egypt (29°42′N 30°48′E / 29.7°N 30.8°E / 29.7; 30.8, paleocoordinates 25°00′N 26°42′E / 25.0°N 26.7°E / 25.0; 26.7).