Parvitragulus fossil map
Where fossils of Parvitragulus 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 | Praetragulidae |
| Named by | Emry 1978 |
| Fossil records | 14 occurrences at 5 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | White River, Capote Mountain Tuff, txn:352940, Devil's Graveyard, Chadron, Rubio Peak |
About Parvitragulus
Parvitragulus (from Latin parvus, meaning "little", and tragulus, meaning "small goat", and thus, "little goat") is an extinct genus of hypertragulid ruminant endemic to North America with only one species, Parvitragulus priscus. It lived during the Late Eocene, 37–33.7 Ma, existing for approximately 3 million years. Its fossils have been found in Wyoming, Nebraska, and Texas. The species name come from Latin priscus, meaning ancient.
Parvitragulus were primitive and ancient ruminants, resembling small deer or musk deer, although they were more closely related to modern chevrotains. Its diet is stated to be that of a frugivore.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Parvitragulus (revision 1357769036), 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: Q7141347.
