Zodiolestes fossil map
Where fossils of Zodiolestes 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 | 23.1–16.3 million years ago (Chattian to Burdigalian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Mustelidae |
| Named by | Riggs 1942 |
| Fossil records | 10 occurrences at 4 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Harrison, Wildcat Hills Beds, Alachua |
About Zodiolestes
Zodiolestes is a genus of mustelids, now extinct, which existed during the Miocene period.
The genus was first described in 1942, by E. S. Riggs, who identified the sister genus Promartes at the same time, and assigned to the family Procyonidae. In 1998 it was assigned to the subfamily Oligobuninae of the family Mustelidae. Two species have been identified in the genus: Z. daimonelixensis and Z. freundi.
Z. daimonelixensis showed digging adaptations, and one fossil was found curled up in the "corkscrew" burrow of the Miocene beaver, Palaeocastor. Zodiolestes was most likely a predator of these fossorial beavers.
This situation was analogous to the modern day prairie dog (genus Cynomys) and its predator the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Zodiolestes (revision 1258224099), 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: Q8073240.
