Pyrotherium fossil map
Where fossils of Pyrotherium 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 | 29–21 million years ago (Rupelian to Aquitanian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Pyrotheridae |
| Named by | Ameghino 1888 |
| Fossil records | 34 occurrences at 13 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Bolivia |
| Rock formations | txn:53651, Sarmiento, Salla, Agua de la Piedra, Deseado |
About Pyrotherium
Pyrotherium (from Ancient Greek πῦρ (pûr), meaning "fire", and θηρίον (theríon), meaning "beast") is an extinct genus of South American ungulates, in the order Pyrotheria, that lived in what is now Argentina and Bolivia during the Late Oligocene. It was named Pyrotherium because the first specimens were excavated from an ancient volcanic ash deposit. Fossils of the genus have been found in the Deseado and Sarmiento Formations of Argentina and the Salla Formation of Bolivia.
So far, two valid species have been described; Pyrotherium romeroi from Argentina, and P. macfaddeni from Bolivia, at the end of Oligocene. P. romeroi in particular is the most recent known pyrothere in the fossil record and best known for its fossil remains, which although incomplete are the best preserved in the entire order. It is also the largest, with an estimated body length from 2.9 to 3.6 meters (9.5 to 11.8 ft). Pyrotherium is believed to have developed a small trunk; despite its close resemblance to elephants (proboscideans), though, it is not related to them, although Pyrotherium's true relationship is still controversial today.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Pyrotherium (revision 1355547143), 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: Q2606712.
