Astrapotherium fossil map
Where fossils of Astrapotherium 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 | 29–13.8 million years ago (Rupelian to Serravallian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Astrapotheriidae |
| Named by | Burmeister 1879 |
| Fossil records | 80 occurrences at 32 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Chile, Venezuela |
| Rock formations | Santa Cruz, Deseado, Galera, Cura-Mallin, Aisol, txn:43459 |
About Astrapotherium
Astrapotherium ("lightning beast") is an extinct genus of large astrapotherian ungulate native to South America during the early-middle Miocene. It is the best known member of the group. The type species. A. magnum have been found in the Santa Cruz Formation in Argentina. Other fossils have been found in the Deseado, Sarmiento, and Aisol Formations of Argentina and Chile (Cura-Mallín Group).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Astrapotherium (revision 1379090377), 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: Q135724.
