Megapaloelodus fossil map
Where fossils of Megapaloelodus 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 | Prehistoric birds |
|---|---|
| Lived | 23.04–5 million years ago (Aquitanian to Zanclean) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Palaelodidae |
| Named by | Miller 1944 |
| Fossil records | 10 occurrences at 9 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Mexico, Argentina, Germany |
| Rock formations | Almejas, Ituzaingo, Temblor, txn:99558, Barstow, Batesland |
About Megapaloelodus
Megapaloelodus is an extinct genus of stem flamingo of the family Palaelodidae. Megapaloelodus is primarily known from Miocene America, from South Dakota and Oregon in the north to Argentina in the south, but the species Megapaloelodus goliath was found in Europe. Additionally, one unnamed species was discovered in Miocene sediments from Namibia. Due to a lack of skull material, little can be said about the ecology of Megapaloelodus. Species of this genus are typically larger than those of Palaelodus and appear to have inhabited similar brackish lake environments. Additionally, they may have been capable of "locking" their legs in a standing position.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Megapaloelodus (revision 1349443384), 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: Q3501993.
