Prothylacinus

Prothylacinus is an extinct genus of South American metatherian, that lived during the Early Miocene.^[1]

Prothylacinus Temporal range: Early Miocene (Santacrucian-Friasian) ~16.0–15.5 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Life restoration of P. patagonicus and Interatherium robustum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Sparassodonta
Family:	†Prothylacinidae
Genus:	†Prothylacinus Ameghino, 1891
Type species
Prothylacinus patagonicus Ameghino, 1891
Synonyms
Napodonictis Ameghino, 1894 Prothylacocyon Winge, 1923 Prothylacynus

Description

Prothylacinus had a vestigial hallux that was most likely not visible in life. The humerus bore the epicondylar foramen. In form it was similar to the related Borhyaena.^[2] As with other Sparassodonts, the deciduous teeth are less reduced, only the canines and premolars changing.^[2]

Distribution

Fossils of Prothylacinus have been found in the Friasian Río Frias Formation of Chile and the Santacrucian Santa Cruz Formation of Argentina.^[3]

Restored skeleton