Cephalogale
Encyclopedia
Cephalogale is an extinct genus of bear-like hemicyonid
carnivore
of the late Oligocene through Miocene
epochs, endemic to North America
and Europe
living from around 33.9—20 Ma, existing for approximately .
Before it was reconsidered to be close to the ancestry of hemicyonids, Cephalogale was once considered to be an ancestor of all bears.
in 1879. Its type is Cephalogale geoffroyi. It was assigned to Ursidae by Carroll (1988); to Hemicyoninae by Hunt (1998); and to Ursoidea by Wang et al. (2005).
Hemicyonidae
Hemicyonidae is an extinct family of so-called "dog-bears", literally "Half Dog" , bear-like carnivoran living in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia during the Oligocene through Miocene epochs 33.9—5.3 Ma, existing for approximately ....
carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
of the late Oligocene through Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
epochs, endemic to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
living from around 33.9—20 Ma, existing for approximately .
Before it was reconsidered to be close to the ancestry of hemicyonids, Cephalogale was once considered to be an ancestor of all bears.
Taxonomy
Cephalogale was named by Henri FilholHenri Filhol
Henri Filhol was a French medical doctor, malacologist and naturalist. He served as the expedition doctor and naturalist on the French 1874 Transit of Venus expedition to Campbell Island, New Zealand, with a peak on the island, Filhol Peak, being named after him...
in 1879. Its type is Cephalogale geoffroyi. It was assigned to Ursidae by Carroll (1988); to Hemicyoninae by Hunt (1998); and to Ursoidea by Wang et al. (2005).
Fossil distribution
- Dětaň, Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
~33.9—28.4 Ma. - Cetina de Aragon, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
~22.4—20 Ma. - Standing Rock Quarry, Zia Sand Formation, Sandoval County, New MexicoSandoval County, New Mexico-Indian reservations:Sandoval County has 12 Indian reservations and two joint-use areas lying within its borders, the second most of any county in the United States -Indian reservations:Sandoval County has 12 Indian reservations and two joint-use areas lying within its borders, the second most of...
~24.8—20.6 Ma. - Agate Springs Quarries, Sioux County, NebraskaSioux County, Nebraska-National protected areas:* Agate Fossil Beds National Monument* Nebraska National Forest * Oglala National Grassland -Demographics:...
~23—5.3 Ma. - Hemingford Quarry 12D, Runningwater Formation, Box Butte County, NebraskaBox Butte County, Nebraska-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,158 people, 4,780 households, and 3,298 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile . There were 5,488 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
~20.6—16.3 Ma.