Protepicyon

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

• zipcodezoo.com
• serials.cib.unibo.it
• calphotos.berkeley.edu
• Flynn, J.J., 1998. Early Cenozoic Carnivora ("Miacoidea"). pages 648-651 in C.M. Janis, K.M. Scott, and L.L. Jacobs (eds.) Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America. Volume 1: Terrestrial Carnivores, Ungulates, and Ungulatelike Mammals. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN 0-521-35519-2
• The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids by David W. Macdonald, and Claudio Sillero-Zubiri; published Published 2004 (Oxford University Press). Page 40, ISBN 0-19-851555-3