Metatomarctus
Encyclopedia
Metatomarctus is an extinct genus of Borophaginae
and a terrestrial
canine
which inhabited most of North America
during the Early Hemingfordian stage of the Miocene epoch living 23.0—5.3 Mya, existing for approximately
These carnivores hunted in packs, like modern canines, and may have preyed upon creatures such as Equus
, rodents, and other smaller prey.
, Desmocyon
, Euoplocyon
, Microtomarctus
, Protomarctus
, Psalidocyon
, Tephrocyon
.
The genus contains one species: M. canavus. Other fossil locations: Maryland
, Wyoming
, New Mexico
, and several in western Nebraska
.
Borophaginae
The subfamily Borophaginae is an extinct group of canids called "bone crushing dogs" that were endemic to North America during the Oligocene to Pliocene and lived roughly 36—2.5 million years ago and existing for approximately .-Origin:...
and a terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
canine
Canidae
Canidae is the biological family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and domestic dogs. A member of this family is called a canid . The Canidae family is divided into two tribes: Canini and Vulpini...
which inhabited most of 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...
during the Early Hemingfordian stage of the Miocene epoch living 23.0—5.3 Mya, existing for approximately
Taxonomy
It was first described by Wang in 1999.These carnivores hunted in packs, like modern canines, and may have preyed upon creatures such as Equus
Equus (genus)
Equus is a genus of animals in the family Equidae that includes horses, donkeys, and zebras. Within Equidae, Equus is the only extant genus. Like Equidae more broadly, Equus has numerous extinct species known only from fossils. This article deals primarily with the extant species.The term equine...
, rodents, and other smaller prey.
Morphology
Fossil specimens of two individuals' body mass were examined by Legendre and Roth. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 11.1 kg (24.5 lb). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 10.5 kg (23.1 lb).Sister genera
CormocyonCormocyon
Cormocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Geringian stage of the Paleogene through Harrisonian stage of the Oligocene epoch living 30.8—20.6 Mya, existing for about ....
, Desmocyon
Desmocyon
Desmocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Harrisonian stage of the Late Oligocene through Early Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene epoch living 24.8—16.3 Mya existing for approximately .-Fossil record:It is a...
, Euoplocyon
Euoplocyon
Euoplocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene subepoch through the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch living 20.6—13.6 Mya, existing for about...
, Microtomarctus
Microtomarctus
Microtomarctus is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Whitneyan stage of the Early Miocene subepoch through the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch.Microtomarctus existed for approximately .Like other...
, Protomarctus
Protomarctus
Protomarctus is an extinct member of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Burdigalian stage of the Miocene epoch 20.4—15.9 Mya, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
, Psalidocyon
Psalidocyon
Psalidocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene subepoch through the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch 20.6—13.6 Ma, existing for about ..-Morphology:Fossil...
, Tephrocyon
Tephrocyon
Tephrocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small to medium sized terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene 16.3—13.6 Ma, existing for approximately .-Morphology:...
.
Fossil distribution
- Thomas Farm SiteThomas Farm SiteThe Thomas Farm site is an Early Miocene, Hemingfordian assemblage of vertebrate fossils located in Gilchrist County, northern Florida.The Thomas Farm site is one of the richest terrestrial deposits of Miocene vertebrates in the 18 Ma range found in eastern North America according to the Florida...
, Gilchrist County, FloridaGilchrist County, FloridaGilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402. Gilchrist County has only one traffic light in the entire county and has no road with more than one lane of traffic...
, estimated age ~23.3—16.3 Mya. - Pollack Farm Site, Kent County, DelawareKent County, DelawareKent County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is coextensive with the Dover, Delaware, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population was 162,310, a 28.1% increase over the previous decade. The county seat is Dover, the state capital...
, estimated age ~20.6—16.3 Mya. - Hackberry Wash, San Bernardino County, CaliforniaSan Bernardino County, CaliforniaSan Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, estimated age ~20.6—16.3 Mya. - Rattlesnake Hills, Fremont County, Wyoming, estimated age ~23.0—5.3 Mya.
- High Rock Canyon aka UCMP V-110, Humboldt County, NevadaHumboldt County, NevadaHumboldt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 18,052. Its county seat is Winnemucca.The county was the site of an arrest in 2000 that led to the U.S. Supreme Court decision Hiibel v...
estimated age ~23.0—5.3 Mya. - Ahren's Prospect, Elder Ridge, and Pebble Creek, Runningwater Formation, Dawes County, NebraskaDawes County, Nebraska-National protected areas:*Nebraska National Forest *Oglala National Grassland *Pine Ridge National Recreation Area-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,060 people, 3,512 households, and 2,086 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile...
, estimated age ~20.6—16.3 Mya.
The genus contains one species: M. canavus. Other fossil locations: Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and several in western Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
.
Sources
General references
- Xiaoming Wang, Richard H. Tedford, Mauricio Antón, Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History, New York : Columbia University Press, 2008; ISBN 978-0-231-13528-3