Andrewsarchus

extinct mammal · ancient predator · China · eocene

Mysterious fossil giant. Andrewsarchus lived about 45 million years ago in what is now China during a time called the Middle Eocene. Scientists named it 'Andrews' ruler' after the explorer who found the first skull.

Puzzle for paleontologists. For many years, scientists weren't sure what Andrewsarchus was related to. Some thought it belonged to one family, others thought another, and some even wondered if it was a distant cousin of whales. Now experts think it deserves its own special family.

Teeth tell stories. We know about Andrewsarchus from two main discoveries: a nearly complete skull found first in 1924, and teeth found later in 1977. These fossils help scientists understand what this creature ate and how it lived.

Mighty meat-eater. Andrewsarchus was likely a powerful predator that hunted other mammals in ancient forests. It may have been one of the largest meat-eating mammals walking the Earth back then.

Chinese fossil sites. All the Andrewsarchus fossils we know about come from three different rock formations in Inner Mongolia, a region in northern China. These sites are treasure chests of ancient animal remains.