Titanoides fossil map
Where fossils of Titanoides have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 56 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 56 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 | 66–56 million years ago (Danian to Thanetian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Titanoideidae |
| Named by | Gidley 1917 |
| Fossil records | 80 occurrences at 24 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Canada |
| Rock formations | Fort Union, DeBeque, txn:40571, Sentinel Butte, Paskapoo, Black Peaks |
About Titanoides
Titanoides is an extinct genus of pantodont mammal which lived in western North America during the late Paleocene (Tiffanian 2 to Clarkforkian 2 ages). It was a medium-sized pantodont which weighed up to 150 kg (330 lb). It was one of the largest mammals in its habitat, a tropical swampland where the main predators were semiaquatic reptiles such as crocodilians and choristoderes.
Titanoides looked similar to a bear in size and stance, though it has no close living relatives. The skull is proportionally large, the tail is short, and the neck is thick and muscular. Its canine teeth are distinctive: the upper canines are saber-like (very long from top-to-bottom), while the lower canines are shaped like hooked blades (with a long base from front-to-back). The limbs are strong and stocky, with five digits on each paw. The rear paws are not fully preserved, but the front paws have narrow curved claws rather than hoofs, unlike other pantodonts. Despite their fearsome canines, the shape of the postcanine teeth (premolars and molars) indicate that Titanoides were probably herbivores. The claws and canines may have been used to dig up and slice through roots and tubers.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Titanoides (revision 1380567093), 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: Q2520880.
