Xenokeryx fossil map
Where fossils of Xenokeryx 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 | 20–15.98 million years ago (Burdigalian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Palaeomerycidae |
| Named by | Sánchez et al. 2015 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Spain |
| Rock formations | txn:42624 |
About Xenokeryx
Xenokeryx ("strange horn" in Greek) is an extinct genus of ruminant known from the Miocene of Europe. The type species, Xenokeryx amidalae, was recovered from central Spain and bears a unique T-shaped protrusion from the top of the head. The specific epithet amidalae is in reference to the character Padmé Amidala from the Star Wars films "due to the striking resemblance that the occipital appendage of Xenokeryx bears to one of the hairstyles that the aforementioned character shows in The Phantom Menace feature film."
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Xenokeryx (revision 1314704940), 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: Q21995271.
