The Enigmatic Giant Mammal
| Meaning | Named after Roy Chapman Andrews [Andrews-archus] |
| Pronunciation | an-DREW-sar-kus |
| When: | Eocene (about 37–34 million years ago) |
| Where: | Asia (Mongolia) |
| What: | Mammal (carnivorous mammal) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 1 metric ton |
| Length: | Approximately 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (ate large prey and possibly scavenged) |
| Discovered: | First described by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1924 |
Andrewsarchus was a colossal mammal that lived approximately 45 to 36 million years ago during the Eocene epoch.
It is known from fossils found in what is now Mongolia.
Andrewsarchus was among the largest carnivorous mammals ever discovered, standing about 8 feet tall at the shoulder with a skull nearly 3 feet long.
It likely roamed ancient forests and plains, hunting large prey with its sharp teeth.
Despite its impressive size, much about Andrewsarchus remains a mystery due to the limited fossil evidence.