Protosiren fossil map
Where fossils of Protosiren have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 45 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 45 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 | 48.07–33.9 million years ago (Lutetian to Priabonian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Protosirenidae |
| Named by | Abel 1904 |
| Fossil records | 46 occurrences at 22 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Egypt, Pakistan, France, India, Hungary, Germany |
| Rock formations | txn:43290, Drazinda, Avon Park, Inglis, Castle Hayne, Tupelo Bay |
About Protosiren
Protosiren is an extinct early genus of the order Sirenia. Protosiren existed throughout the Lutetian to Priabonian stages of the Middle Eocene. Fossils have been found in the far-flung locations like the United States (South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida), Africa (Egypt), Europe (France, Germany and Hungary) and Asia (India and Pakistan).
So far, five species have been named. From comparative anatomy and chronological order, it has been suggested that P. fraasi, P. sattaensis and P. smithae represent an ancestor-descendant lineage. P. eothene is the oldest and smallest species.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Protosiren (revision 1372745764), 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: Q3924343.
