Hypisodus fossil map
Where fossils of Hypisodus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 30 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 30 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 | 37–24.7 million years ago (Priabonian to Chattian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Hypisodontidae |
| Named by | Cope 1873 |
| Fossil records | 74 occurrences at 15 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Brule, White River, Chadron, txn:104772, "Oreodon Beds", Gering |
About Hypisodus
Hypisodus is an extinct genus of hoofed mammal belonging to the family Hypertragulidae, within the order Artiodactyla, endemic to North America during the Eocene through Oligocene, living 37.2–26.3 Ma, existing for approximately 10.9 million years.
Hypisodus were primitive and ancient ruminants, resembling small deer or musk deer, although they were more closely related to modern chevrotains. Its diet was thought to be that of a frugivore, however it has been noted that its dentition and small body size supports the idea of requiring a highly selective browsing diet resembling other modern small artiodactyls.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Hypisodus (revision 1355317644), 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: Q5958957.
