Megacerops fossil map
Where fossils of Megacerops 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 | 45.9–33.9 million years ago (Lutetian to Priabonian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Brontotheriidae |
| Named by | Leidy 1870 |
| Fossil records | 94 occurrences at 21 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Rock formations | Chadron, txn:43027, White River, Cypress HIlls, Chambers Tuff, Cypress Hills |
About Megacerops
Megacerops (lit. 'great horned face') is an extinct genus of horned brontothere that lived in North America during the Late Eocene, in the Chadronian land mammal age. Megacerops is among the best represented large mammals in the fossil record, known from hundreds of complete skulls and several complete skeletons. As the classic brontothere, Megacerops has enjoyed enduring fame in popular culture, often under various historically used names, such as Brontotherium, Brontops, and Titanotherium.
Megacerops was superficially similar to modern rhinoceroses, but closer to elephants in size. The largest known Megacerops may have been over 2.5 meters (8 ft 2 in) tall at the shoulder and could have weighed up to four or five tonnes. They were among the largest mammals in the Eocene, rivaled only by other brontotheres, and were by far the largest animals in their environment. Adult Megacerops were likely too large to be preyed upon by any contemporary predator.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Megacerops (revision 1365157347), 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: Q135590.
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