Ribodon fossil map
Where fossils of Ribodon 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 | 11.63–5.333 million years ago (Tortonian to Messinian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Trichechinae |
| Named by | Ameghino 1883 |
| Fossil records | 14 occurrences at 5 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina |
| Rock formations | Urumaco, Solimoes, Entre Rios |
About Ribodon
Ribodon is an extinct genus of manatee that lived around South America (Ituzaingó Formation, then described as Entrerriana Formation, Argentina, Solimões Formation, Brazil and Urumaco Formation, Urumaco, Venezuela) during the Tortonian (Mayoan to Huayquerian in the South American land mammal ages). The type species is R. limbatus.
Ribodon is considered the direct ancestor of the Trichechus genus to which all modern manatees belong and was the first manatee to exhibit supernumerary molars that were replaced throughout life, indicating a diet of abrasive plants. Ribodon is hypothesized to have inhabited both coastal and inland freshwater regions; however, in which of the two it originated is unknown.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Ribodon (revision 1368888963), 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: Q533651.
