Paranacaiman fossil map
Where fossils of Paranacaiman have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 5 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 5 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 | Crocodile relatives |
|---|---|
| Lived | 8–5 million years ago (Tortonian to Zanclean) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Alligatoridae |
| Named by | Bona et al. 2024 |
| Fossil records | 1 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina |
| Rock formations | Ituzaingo |
About Paranacaiman
Paranacaiman is an extinct genus of large caiman from the Late Miocene Ituzaingó Formation of Argentina. The holotype, a skull table, was part of the hypodigm for "Caiman lutescens", which was later found to be a nomen dubium. Since a lectotype had been erected for "C. lutescens", the skull table was not name-bearing and was thus used to erect Paranacaiman. The genus is monotypic, meaning it only contains a single species: Paranacaiman bravardi.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Paranacaiman (revision 1327695193), 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: Q130045234.
