Paschatherium fossil map
Where fossils of Paschatherium have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 56 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 56 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 | 59.24–41.03 million years ago (Thanetian to Lutetian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Named by | Russell 1963 |
| Fossil records | 50 occurrences at 14 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | France, Spain, Belgium, Romania, Portugal, Morocco, United Kingdom |
| Rock formations | txn:NF, Tienen, Lignites de Soissonais, Jibou, Calcaire de Ventenac, Silveirinha |
About Paschatherium
Paschatherium is a small extinct mammal of the Perissodactyla order, with an insectivore-like dentition.
Its morphology indicates an arboreal form, adapted climbing and running on trees. Paschatherium must have been extremely numerous in the latest Paleocene and earliest Eocene of Europe, since it makes up the majority of all mammal fossils in some fossil sites.
Paschatherium has been viewed as a possible ancestor of our modern elephants, sea cows and hyraxes. However, a 2014 cladistic analysis places it within stem perissodactyls.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Paschatherium (revision 1314737374), 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: Q7141799.
