Gigantamynodon fossil map
Where fossils of Gigantamynodon 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 | 48.07–33.9 million years ago (Lutetian to Priabonian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Amynodontidae |
| Named by | Gromova 1954 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | China |
| Rock formations | Shara Murum |
About Gigantamynodon
Gigantamynodon ("giant Amynodon") is an extinct genus of amynodont that lived in East Asia, and perhaps Central Asia, from the Middle Eocene to the Late Oligocene. Several species of Gigantamynodon have been named, mostly based on fragmentary fossils of very large amynodonts found in China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Because of the fragmentary fossils, the validity of Gigantamynodon has been called into question, though the genus continues to be routinely used. Morphologically, fossils referred to Gigantamynodon are similar to those of Zaisanamynodon, of which Gigantamynodon has been suggested to be a senior synonym.
Gigantamynodon was an extremely large amynodont, and the largest fossils suggest a size range similar to Zaisanamynodon. Other than extreme size, Gigantamynodon is poorly defined as a genus. It might be characterized by certain dental features, such as relatively large and hypsodont (high-crowned) teeth and enlarged tusk-like canines, but it is not clear if the dentition is consistent across the fossils referred to the genus.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Gigantamynodon (revision 1378602543), 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: Q121330370.
