Rhynchotherium fossil map
Where fossils of Rhynchotherium 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 | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 23.04–0.21 million years ago (Aquitanian to Chibanian) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Gomphotheriidae |
| Named by | Falconer 1868 |
| Fossil records | 76 occurrences at 32 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica |
| Rock formations | txn:43240, Rancho Viejo Beds, Gracias, Coal Valley, Herreria, Starlight |
About Rhynchotherium
Rhynchotherium is an extinct genus of gomphothere endemic to the southern USA and Mexico from the Miocene to the Early Pleistocene (5.9 to 2.2 Ma). This temporal range also corresponds from the late Hemphillian faunal stage (Hh4) to the Late Blancan faunal stage, with Rhynchotherium being considered by some researchers as a taxon emblematic of the Blancan faunal stage. Rhynchotherium had two tusks and likely evolved from Gomphotherium.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Rhynchotherium (revision 1365637762), 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: Q2353831.
