Brachypsalis fossil map
Where fossils of Brachypsalis 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 | 23.04–5.333 million years ago (Aquitanian to Messinian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Mustelidae |
| Named by | Cope 1890 |
| Fossil records | 32 occurrences at 15 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | txn:41086, Olcott, Sheep Creek, Pawnee Creek Beds, Valentine, Barstow |
About Brachypsalis
Brachypsalis is an extinct genus of mustelids, which existed during the Miocene period.
The genus was first described by E. D. Cope in 1890. A similar genus, Brachypsaloides, was later identified as synonymous with Brachypsalis. Cope assigned the genus to the family Mustelidae, whilst J. A. Baskin assigned it to the subfamily Oligobuninae in 1998.
Five species have been identified in the genus: B. hyaenoides, B. matutinus, B. modicus, B. obliquidens, and B. pachycephalus. A sixth species, B. simplicidens, was later determined to be synonymous with Megalictis ferox.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Brachypsalis (revision 1258214492), 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: Q4953543.
