Prothylacinus
Extinct marsupial-like mammal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prothylacinus is an extinct genus of South American metatherian, that lived during the Early Miocene.[1]
| Prothylacinus | |
|---|---|
| |
| 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 | |
| |
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]
