Eodesmus fossil map
Where fossils of Eodesmus 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 | 20.45–15.98 million years ago (Burdigalian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Desmatophocidae |
| Named by | Tate-Jones et al. 2020 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Astoria |
About Eodesmus
Eodesmus is an extinct genus of pinniped that belongs to the family Desmatophocidae. It lived in Oregon during the Miocene epoch. The only species belonging to this genus is Eodesmus condoni making it a monotypic genus.
Based on phylogenetic analyses, Eodesmus is likely the most basal genus of the family.
The genus is represented by a nearly complete cranium that was found in the Burdigalian Iron Mountain Bed of the Astoria Formation located in Oregon, United States. The discovery of this genus in an already pinniped-rich region shows that pinnipeds had an increase species diversity during the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Eodesmus (revision 1335414215), 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: Q123015110.
