| Protomarctus Temporal range: Early Miocene |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Subfamily: | †Borophaginae |
| Genus: | †Protomarctus Wang, 1999 |
| Type species | |
| †P. optatus |
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Protomarctus is an extinct member of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine (Bear-dog) which inhabited most of North America during the Burdigalian stage of the Miocene epoch 20.4—15.9 Mya, existing for approximately 4.5 million years.[1]
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Protomarctus was named by Wang et al. (1999). It was assigned to Borophagini by Wang et al. (1999). One species, Tomarctus optatus, is known and was named by Matthew in 1924. The first specimen was found in Thomson Quarry, Sheep Creek Formation, Nebraska in a Hemingfordian layer.
Protomarctus were short-faced, heavy-jawed canines usually massive in size. It would have shared its early existence with a variety of bear dogs like bone crushing canidae Aelurodontina, Tomarctus, Phlaocyonini, and Rhizocyon.
Fossil specimens of two individuals' body mass were examined by Legendre and Roth. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 11.8 kg (26 lb). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 11.1 kg (24 lb).[2]
Protomarctus specimens have been found in present day Nebraska, Colorado, as far west as California and as far southwsest as New Mexico.[3]
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