Protursus

Extinct genus of ailurid

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

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

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

^ ^a ^b 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.

Genera of red pandas, raccoons, skunks, mustelids and their extinct allies

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora

Musteloidea

†Peignictis
†Plesiogale

Ailuridae

Ailurinae	Ailurus †Magerictis †Parailurus †Pristinailurus
†Amphictinae	Amphictis
†Simocyoninae	Actiocyon Alopecocyon Protursus Simocyon

Mephitidae

†Brachyprotoma
Conepatus
Mephitis
Mydaus
†Palaeomephitis
†Promephitis
Spilogale

Procyonidae

†Amphinasua
†Angustictis
†Arctonasua
Bassaricyon
Bassariscus
†Bassaricynoides
†Chapalmalania
†Cyonasua
†Edaphocyon
Nasua
Nasuella
†Parahyaenodon
†Paranasua
†Parapotos
†Probassariscus
Procyon
†Protoprocyon
Potos
†Tetraprothomo

Mustelidae

†Acheronictis †Aragonictis †Arikarictis †Circamustela †Erokomellivora †Franconictis †Kenyalutra †Kinometaxia †Laphyctis †Luogale †Marcetia †Matanomictis †Melidellavus †Mellalictis †Mesomephitis †Miomustela †Namibictis †Oaxacagale †Palaeomeles †Paragale †Parataxidea †Perunium †Plesictis †Plesiogale †Plesiomeles †Prepoecilogale †Presictis †Promellivora †Proputorius †Pyctis †Sabadellictis †Semantor †Sinictis †Sivalictis †Skopelogale †Sonitictis †Taxodon †Trochotherium †Xenictis †Zorilla
Guloninae	†Canimartes Eira †Ferinestrix Gulo †Iberictis †Ischyrictis Martes Pekania †Plesiogulo †Plionictis †Sthenictis
Helictidinae	Melogale
Ictonychinae	†Brevimalictis †Cernictis †Eirictis †Enhydrictis Galictis Ictonyx †Lutravus Lyncodon †Martellictis †Negodiaetictis †Oriensictis †Pannonictis †Poecilictis Poecilogale †Sminthosinis †Stipanicicia †Trigonictis †Trochictis Vormela
Lutrinae	†Algarolutra Aonyx †Cyrnaonyx †Cyrnolutra †Djourabus Enhydra †Enhydriodon †Enhydritherium Hydrictis †Limnonyx Lontra Lutra †Lutraeximia †Lutrictis Lutrogale †Megalenhydris †Megencephalon †Melodon †Mionictis †Nesolutra †Paludolutra †Paralutra †Pelycictis Pteronura †Sardolutra †Satherium †Siamogale †Sivaonyx †Teruelictis †Torolutra †Tyrrhenolutra †Vishnuonyx
†Leptarctinae	Craterogale Leptarctus Trocharion
Melinae	†Arctomeles Arctonyx Meles †Promeles
Mellivorinae	†Ekorus †Eomellivora †Hoplictis Mellivora †Moralesictis
†Mustelavinae	Mustelavus
Mustelinae	†Baranogale †Dinogale †Lartetictis †Legionarictis Mustela Neogale †Putorius †Tisisthenes
†Oligobuninae	Brachypsalis Corumictis Floridictis Megalictis Oligobunis Parabrachypsalis Paroligobunis Promartes Zodiolestes
Taxidiinae	†Chamitataxus †Pliotaxidea Taxidea

Taxon identifiers
Protursus	Wikidata: Q65141603 Wikispecies: Protursus GBIF: 4833245 Open Tree of Life: 3613397 Paleobiology Database: 116932
Protursus simpsoni	Wikidata: Q118242375 Wikispecies: Protursus simpsoni GBIF: 6142159 Open Tree of Life: 3613420 Paleobiology Database: 116933