Thryonomys fossil map
Where fossils of Thryonomys have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 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 0 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 million years ago to the present (Tortonian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Thryonomyidae |
| Named by | Fitzinger 1867 |
| Fossil records | 94 occurrences at 37 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Kenya, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Sudan, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, Eswatini |
| Rock formations | txn:42022, Koobi Fora, Wehaietu, Shungura, Nachukui, Kapthurin |
About Thryonomys
The genus Thryonomys, also known as cane rats or grasscutters, is a genus of rodent found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only extant genus in the family Thryonomyidae. They are eaten in some African countries and are a pest species on many crops. The family name comes from the Greek word thryon, meaning a "rush" or "reed" and mys meaning "mouse".
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Cane rat (revision 1356787819), 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: Q852804.
