Thylophorops fossil map
Where fossils of Thylophorops 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 | 5–2.58 million years ago (Zanclean to Piacenzian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Didelphidae |
| Named by | Reig 1952 |
| Fossil records | 20 occurrences at 6 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina |
| Rock formations | Chapadmalal, txn:39945, Monte Hermoso, Barranca de los Lobos, San Andres |
About Thylophorops
Thylophorops is an extinct genus of didelphine opossums from the Pliocene of South America. Compared to their close didelphine cousins like the living Philander and Didelphis (and like the still living Lutreolina) opossums, Thylophorops displays specialization towards carnivory, and one species, T. lorenzinii, is the largest known opossum of all time, which could imply a macropredatory role.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Thylophorops (revision 1264352648), 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: Q3805941.
