Mesohippus fossil map
Where fossils of Mesohippus 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 | 39.7–29.5 million years ago (Bartonian to Rupelian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Equidae |
| Named by | Marsh 1875 |
| Fossil records | 172 occurrences at 40 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Rock formations | txn:42984, Brule, Chadron, Chambers Tuff, Renova, Cypress Hills |
About Mesohippus
Mesohippus (Greek: μεσο/meso meaning "middle" and ιππος/hippos meaning "horse") is an extinct genus of early horse. It lived 37 to 32 million years ago in the Early Oligocene. Like many fossil horses, Mesohippus was common in North America. Its shoulder height is estimated at 60 cm.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Mesohippus (revision 1346225297), 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: Q132597.
