Archaeohippus fossil map
Where fossils of Archaeohippus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 15 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 29.5–5.333 million years ago (Rupelian to Messinian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Equidae |
| Named by | Gidley 1906 |
| Fossil records | 164 occurrences at 47 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Canada, Panama |
| Rock formations | txn:42984, Sheep Creek, Mascall, Punchbowl, Calvert, Oakville |
About Archaeohippus
Archaeohippus (Greek: "ancient" (archaios), "horse" (hippos)) is an extinct three-toed member of the family Equidae known from fossils of early Oligocene to middle Miocene age. The genus is noted for several distinct skeletal features. The skull possesses deeply pocketed fossa in a notably long preorbital region. The genus is considered an example of phyletic dwarfism with adults estimated at being on average 20 kilograms in weight. This is in contrast to the most common equid of the period, Miohippus. Characters of the teeth show a mix of both primitive and advanced traits. The advanced traits are very similar to those shown in the genus Parahippus. The noted similarities of Archaeohippus and Parahippus show them to be descended from a common ancestor. They are considered sister species.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Archaeohippus (revision 1323385116), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q776370.
