Thoatherium fossil map
Where fossils of Thoatherium have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 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 15 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 | 20.45–13.82 million years ago (Burdigalian to Langhian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Proterotheriidae |
| Named by | Ameghino 1887 |
| Fossil records | 38 occurrences at 16 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Chile, Bolivia |
| Rock formations | Santa Cruz, Galera, Nazareno, Cerro Boleadoras |
About Thoatherium
Thoatherium (meaning "active swift-beast") is an extinct genus of litoptern mammals from the Early Miocene of Argentina. Fossils of the genus have been found in the Santa Cruz Formation in Argentina. With a length of 70 centimetres (2.3 ft), the gazelle-like Thoatherium was a small representative of the order Litopterna. Judging from its long legs, it was a fast runner. Thoatherium had remarkably reduced toes; only one horse-like hoof remained. Thoatherium even lacked splint bones, which are remnants of the second and fourth toe found in modern horses. Judging from its generalised, brachydont teeth, Thoatherium fed on soft leaves rather than on tough grasses.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Thoatherium (revision 1371814695), 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: Q137486.
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