Salishicetus

{{Short description|Extinct genus of whales}}

{{one source |date=March 2024}}

{{Speciesbox

| fossil_range = Late Oligocene

| genus = Salishicetus

| parent_authority = Peredo and Pyenson, 2018

| species = meadi

| authority = Peredo and Pyenson, 2018

}}

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 suction feeding or to catch large prey. The name refers to the Salish Sea, which it was found near, which itself honors the Salish tribes of the Pacific Northwest region.{{cite journal|first1=C. M.|last1=Peredo|first2=N. D.|author2-link=Nicholas Pyenson|last2=Pyenson|year=2018|title=Salishicetus meadi, a new aetiocetid from the late Oligocene of Washington State and implications for feeding transitions in early mysticete evolution|journal=Royal Society Open Science|volume=5|issue=4|doi=10.1098/rsos.172336|pmid=29765681|pmc=5936946|bibcode=2018RSOS....572336P }}