Dinohippus fossil map
Where fossils of Dinohippus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 5 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 5 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 | 23.04–1.4 million years ago (Aquitanian to Calabrian) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Equidae |
| Named by | Quinn 1955 |
| Fossil records | 300 occurrences at 96 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Mexico, Canada, Panama, Costa Rica |
| Rock formations | txn:42984, Rancho Viejo Beds, Peace River, Hunter Creek Sandstone, Ogallala, "Coal Valley" |
About Dinohippus
Dinohippus (from Ancient Greek δεινός (deinós), meaning "terrible", and ἵππος (híppos), meaning "horse") is an extinct equid which was endemic to North America from the late Hemphillian stage of the Miocene through the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene (10.3—3.6 mya) and in existence for approximately 6.7 million years. Fossils are widespread throughout North America, being found at more than 30 sites from Florida to Alberta and from Mexico all the way down to Panama (Alajuela Formation). The majority of fossils of Dinohippus have been unearthed in the Western United States in Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and California.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Dinohippus (revision 1371001134), 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: Q252178.
