Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 20 hrs ago
Fossils of a 40-million-year-old mammal found in Oceanside
During an infrastructure project in Oceanside, California, a paleontologist found fossil bones about 12 feet underground.
The bones belong to a large, hoofed mammal that lived 40 to 45 million years ago, during the Eocene Epoch.
The animal may have been a titanothere, or a relative called Amynodon, but its exact identity is not yet known.
The find includes limb bones, ribs and fragments, with the largest piece appearing to be a thigh bone.
The team spent seven days uncovering the bones, then moved them to a laboratory for study.
The fossils add to evidence of ancient wildlife in the region, where the same rock formation has yielded other mammal fossils.
Lab work is expected to settle which animal the bones came from.
Fossils of a large hoofed mammal dating to about 40 to 45 million years ago were found during construction in Oceanside, California.
The bones were discovered about 12 feet below the surface during excavation for a city infrastructure project.
The animal may have been a titanothere or an Amynodon, and laboratory work is expected to identify it.
The find includes limb bones, ribs and other bones and fragments, with the largest piece appearing to be a femur.
The fossils were removed and taken to an off-site laboratory.
- Who
- Paleontologist Joseph El Adli spotted the bones while monitoring the construction dig.
- What
- Fossils of a large hoofed mammal from 40 to 45 million years ago were found. It may have been a titanothere or an Amynodon.
- When
- The City of Oceanside announced the find on September 22, 2026. The discovery date is not stated.
- Where
- Oceanside, California, at a city infrastructure project. The exact location has not been disclosed.
- Why
- The bones were exposed during excavation for the project. The city uses paleontological monitors on major infrastructure work as standard practice and to comply with California environmental laws.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
El Adli spotted fossil bones about 12 feet below the surface while monitoring an excavation in Oceanside.
El Adli’s team exposed the bones from beneath several tons of hardened mudstone and sandstone.
The fossils were wrapped in a plaster field jacket and moved to an off-site laboratory.
The City of Oceanside announced the find.
- Age estimate
- 40 to 45 million years
- Depth
- About 12 feet (3.7 meters) below the surface
- Possible identities
- Titanothere or Amynodon
- Rock formation
- Member C of the Santiago Formation
- Recovery effort
- Seven days to expose the bones