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568 / Cenozoic
Palaeotherium
Palaeotherium magnum
A short face, low-crowned teeth and three-toed feet belonged to a European herbivore near horse relatives.
- Time range
- About 38–33 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Eocene
- Geographic range
- Subtropical forest and lakeshore · Europe
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Palaeotherium?
Palaeotherium (Palaeotherium magnum) was an extinct organism known from About 38–33 million years ago, with a range in Subtropical forest and lakeshore · Europe.
Life and ecology
It browsed leaves and shoots in forest understory and walked on soft ground with multiple toes.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Palaeotherium disappear?
Cooling, forest loss and Asian faunal immigration across the Eocene–Oligocene transition ended it.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Palaeotherium?
Paris gypsum skulls, teeth and skeletons shaped early reconstruction history; nasal soft tissues remain debated.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS