Brachypotherium fossil map
Where fossils of Brachypotherium 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 | 27.3–2.58 million years ago (Chattian to Piacenzian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Rhinocerotidae |
| Named by | Roger 1904 |
| Fossil records | 148 occurrences at 54 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Pakistan, France, Nepal, Kenya, Germany, Portugal, China, Poland, India, Thailand … |
| Rock formations | txn:43187, Chitarwata, Chinji, Brackwater Molasse, Dang Valley, Nagri |
About Brachypotherium
Brachypotherium is an extinct genus of rhinocerotid that lived in Eurasia and Africa during the Miocene.
Many species of Brachypotherium have been described. Some species have moved to other genera, such as B. aurelianense being transferred to Diaceratherium. The genus was widespread during the Early and Middle Miocene, before heading into a decline. They went extinct in Eurasia by the beginning of the Late Miocene, with the African species B. lewisi surviving until the end of the epoch.
A first upper deciduous molar referable to Brachypotherium brachypus was found during gold mining in New Caledonia during the 19th century, being misidentified as a species of marsupial known as Zygomaturus. However, rhinoceros were never native to New Caledonia, and the tooth likely originates from France and was probably used as jewelry by a French convict deported there.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Brachypotherium (revision 1374740476), 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: Q132119.
