Montanatylopus fossil map
Where fossils of Montanatylopus 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 | 37–33.9 million years ago (Priabonian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Oromerycidae |
| Named by | Prothero 1986 |
| Fossil records | 4 occurrences at 2 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Chadron, Rubio Peak |
About Montanatylopus
Montanatylopus is an extinct genus of oromerycid from the late Eocene (Chadronian 2) of Montana and New Mexico. It contains a single species, Montanatylopus matthewi. Like other oromerycids, it was an early relative of camels with a relatively short neck and legs.
Montanatylopus is one of the largest and most complete oromerycids, with a skull around 19.2 centimetres (7.6 in) long. Though clearly an oromerycid, it converges closer to camels in several regards, such as its more hypsodont (higher-crowned) teeth and slender limbs. The holotype of Montanatylopus is a nearly complete skeleton, discovered in 1938 by Carnegie Museum paleontologist J. Leroy Kay. It is from the McCarty's Mountain local fauna in Madison County, Montana. A partial lower jaw similar to Montanatylopus was also found in the Rubio Peak Formation of New Mexico.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Montanatylopus (revision 1380986349), 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: Q135450851.
