Protursus

Protursus is a fossil genus of ailurid with a single species Protursus simpsoni, known from a single left m2 tooth.^[1]

Protursus Temporal range: Late Miocene
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Ailuridae
Subfamily:	†Simocyoninae
Genus:	†Protursus Crusafont and Kurtén, 1976
Type species
†Protursus simpsoni Crusafont and Kurtén, 1976
Synonyms
Simocyon simpsoni

Taxonomy & Evolution

Protursus simpsoni was believed to be an ursid (bear) closely related to Ursavus by its original describers. In 1977, Thenius lumped the species into the genus Simocyon as Simocyon simpsoni, but this was rejected in 2005, instead being split back into Protursus, though as a member of the subfamily Simocyoninae.^[2][3][4]

Description

Protursus simpsoni is known from only a single specimen, a left m2 found at the Late Miocene Can Llobateras site in Spain.^[1]

References

1. Morlo, Michael; Peigné, Stéphane (2010). "Molecular and morphological evidence for Ailuridae and a review of its genera". Carnivoran Evolution. p. 121. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139193436.005. ISBN 9780521515290.
2. Crusafont, M.; Kurtén, B. (1976). "Bears and bear−dogs from the Vallesian of the Vallés−Penedés Basin, Spain". Acta Zoologica Fennica. 144: 1–29. ISBN 95-1-661-013-7. ISSN 0001-7299.
3. Thenius, E. (1977). "ZUR SYSTEMATISCHEN STELLUNG VON PROTURSUS (CARNIVORA, MAMMALIA)". Oesterr. Akad. Wissensch., Math.-Naturwissensch. Kl., Anzeiger; Aut; Da. (in German). 114 (3): 37–41.
4. Peigné, S.; Salesa, M. J.; Antón, M.; Morales, J. (2005). "Ailurid carnivoran mammal Simocyon from the late Miocene of Spain and the systematics of the genus" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 50 (2): 229–230.