Eophyseter

Eophyseter is a genus of extinct physeterid sperm whale from the Pliocene epoch of Italy. It contains one known species: Eophyseter damarcoi, the remains of which were found in the Sabbie d'Asti Formation in the municipality of Vigliano d'Asti. The holotype specimen, MGPT-PU 13864, is relatively complete, consisting of a partial skeleton including most of the vertebral column, a partial left flipper and sternum, fifteen ribs and one chevron. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek words for dawn (ήώς) and blower (φυσώ). The specific name honors Piero Damarco, who facilitated the preparation of the holotype specimen.^[1]

Eophyseter Temporal range: 3.2-3.0 Ma (Piacenzian) PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	Physeteridae
Genus:	†Eophyseter Bisconti et al., 2025
Type species
†Eophyseter damarcoi Bisconti et al., 2025

Phylogenetic analysis by Michelangelo Bisconti and colleagues recovers Eophyseter within the family Physeteridae, placing it as sister to Idiophyseter and as a close relative to Aulophyseter and the modern sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).^[1]