Prototocyon

Not to be confused with Protocyon.

Prototocyon is an extinct genus of small omnivorous canid that lived during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene.^[1] It is closely related to the living bat-eared fox (Otocyon).

Prototocyon Temporal range: Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Caniformia
Family:	Canidae
Genus:	†Prototocyon Pohle, 1928
Type species
†Prototocyon curvipalatus Bose, 1880
Species
P. curvipalatus P. recki
Synonyms
Sivacyon

Taxonomy

Prototocyon was named by Pohle (1928) and was assigned to Canidae by Carroll (1988).^[2] Old literature relates it to Vulpes bengalensis, but not more modern literature (e.g. McKenna and Bell.^[3][4] A 2013 study stated that the genus "is only doubtfully distinct from Otocyon" the genus of the living bat-eared fox.^[5]

Description

Prototocyon is closely related and likely looked similar to the living bat-eared fox

Prototocyon was a small canine similar to the bat-eared fox in overall morphology and likely in habits as well. It differed from the modern bat-eared fox mainly in its more primitive dentition.^[6]

Fossil distribution

Fossil remains of P. curvipalatus were recovered from the early Pleistocene Upper Siwaliks horizon of the Siwalik Hills, India (Colbert 1935; Pilgrim 1932).

Fossils of P recki have been found in the Olduvai Gorge area of Tanzania.^[6]