Metatomarctus Explained

Metatomarctus is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Early to Middle Miocene, 23–16 Mya, existing for approximately ^[1] It was an intermediate-size canid, and more predaceous than earlier borophagines.^[2]

It hunted in packs, like modern canines, and may have preyed upon creatures such as Equus, rodents, and other smaller prey.

Fossil distribution

• Thomas Farm Site, Gilchrist County, Florida, estimated age ~23.3—16.3 Mya.^[3]
• Pollack Farm Site, Kent County, Delaware.
• Hackberry Wash, San Bernardino County, California.
• Rattlesnake Hills, Fremont County, Wyoming.
• High Rock Canyon aka UCMP V-110, Humboldt County, Nevada.
• Ahren's Prospect, Elder Ridge, and Pebble Creek, Runningwater Formation, Dawes County, Nebraska.^[4]
• Other fossil locations: Maryland, Wyoming, New Mexico, western Nebraska.^[1]

Notes and References

1. http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=41221&is_real_user=1 Matatomarctus, fossilworks
2. Book: Wang . Xiaoming . Tedford . Richard H. . 2008 . Dogs, Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History . Columbia . 35 . 978-0-231-13528-3.
3. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/vertpaleo/thomas_farm.html www.flmnh.ufl.edu
4. http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=basicCollectionSearch&collection_list=17864,17906,17978 Dawes County Collection, Paleobiology