Chipetaia fossil map
Where fossils of Chipetaia have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 45 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 45 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 | 45.9–39.7 million years ago (Lutetian to Bartonian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Omomyidae |
| Named by | Rasmussen 1996 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Uinta |
About Chipetaia
Chipetaia is an extinct genus of primate in the family Omomyidae, containing the sole species Chipetaia lamporea, known from the middle Eocene of North America. Described in 1996 by D. Tab Rasmussen, the species is known from fossil teeth, femur fragments and hind foot bones Estimates of life weight based on the size of teeth and leg bones range from 500 to 700 g (1.1 to 1.5 lb) to as high as 1,000 g (2.2 lb). The genus name honors the Native American Ute diplomat Chipeta, while the specific name is Greek for "of the Shining Mountains," the Ute name for the Rocky Mountains.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Chipetaia (revision 1255791266), 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: Q22285447.
