Metatomarctus is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Early to Middle Miocene, 23–16 Mya, existing for approximately 7 million years[1] It was an intermediate-size canid, and more predaceous than earlier borophagines.[2]

Metatomarctus
Temporal range: Early Miocene–Middle Miocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Subfamily: Borophaginae
Tribe: Borophagini
Genus: Metatomarctus
Wang et al., 1999
Species:
M. canavus
Binomial name
Metatomarctus canavus
(Simpson, 1932)

It hunted in packs,[citation needed] like modern canines, and may have preyed upon creatures such as Equus, rodents, and other smaller prey.[citation needed]

Fossil distribution

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References

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  1. ^ a b Matatomarctus, fossilworks
  2. ^ Wang, Xiaoming; Tedford, Richard H. (2008). Dogs, Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History. Columbia. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-231-13528-3.
  3. ^ www.flmnh.ufl.edu Archived 2008-05-15 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Dawes County Collection, Paleobiology