Protepicyon

Protepicyon
Temporal range: Middle Miocene–Late Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivoramorpha
Family: Borophaginae
Genus: Protepicyon
Wang, 1999
Binomial name
Protepicyon raki
Wang, 1999
Type species
Protepicyon raki

Protepicyon is an extinct genus of the family Borophaginae which lived during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch living 16.3—13.6 mya, existing for approximately 3.3 million years.[1]

It was named by Wang in 1999 and assigned to Borophagina by Wang et al. that same year. The fossil distribution is represented by one find in California.

Taxonomy

Protepicyon was named by Wang et al. (1999). Its type is Protepicyon raki. It was assigned to Borophagina by Wang et al. (1999).[2]

Morphology

Two specimens were examined by Legendre and Roth for body mass. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 36.4 kg (80 lb). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 32.2 kg (71 lb).[3]

Species

Protepicyon contains one species: P. raki.

Sister genera

Borophagus (synonymous with Hyaenognathus, Osteoborus, Pliogulo,Porthocyon), Carpocyon, Epicyon and Paratomarctus.

Sources

  1. Paleobiology Database: Protepicyon basic info.
  2. See Paleobiology Database
  3. S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology
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