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Paraborhyaena

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Extinct genus of metatherians

Paraborhyaena
Temporal range: Oligocene 27–26 Ma PreꞒ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Sparassodonta
Family: Proborhyaenidae
Genus: Paraborhyaena
Hoffstetter & Petter, 1983
Species: P. boliviana
Binomial name
Paraborhyaena boliviana
Hoffstetter & Petter, 1983

Paraborhyaena is an extinct genus of Sparassodont, belonging to the family Proborhyaenidae. It was one of the large terrestrial predators that roamed South America during the Oligocene.

Discovery

Fossil remains of Paraborhyaena have been discovered in the Salla Formation in Bolivia. Those fossils date back from 27 to 26 millions of years ago, during the Deseadan stage of the Oligocene.

Description

Paraborhyaena was one of the largest predatory metatherians of all times. It was the size of an American black bear, with a head-torso length of almost 1.5 meters and an estimated weight between 100 and 125 kilograms. Its skull was 40 centimeters long. Paraborhyaena had a robust head with a short snout. Unlike Borhyaena, the large canines of Paraborhyaena kept growing during its life. Its molars were well-suited for tearing flesh. It was a ground-dwelling carnivore, who preyed on medium-sized mammals, such as typotheres.

References

  1. Paraborhyaena boliviana et Andinogale sallensis, deux marsupiaux (Borhyaenidae) nouveaux du Déséadien (Oligocène inférieur) de Salla (Bolivie). R Hoffstetter & G Petter. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences (1983).
  2. Marsupial skulls from the Deseadan (Late Oligocene) of Bolivia and phylogenetic analysis of the Borhyaenoidea (Marsupialia, Mammalia). C de Muizon. Geobios (1999).
  3. Horned armadillos and rafting monkeys: the fascinating fossil mammals of South America. DA Croft. Indiana University Press (2016).
Metatheria
Synapsida
Cynodontia
Mammalia
Metatheria
    • see below↓
Metatheria
Metatheria
Deltatheroida
Deltatheridiidae
Marsupialiformes
Sparassodonta
    • see below↓
Asiatheriidae
Archimetatheria
Stagodontidae
Pediomyoidea
Peradectidae
Alphadontidae
Herpetotheriidae
Anatoliadelphyidae
Polydolopimorphia
    • see below↓
Marsupialia
Didelphodon vorax

Alphadon sp.

Herpetotherium fugax
Sparassodonta
Sparassodonta
Hathliacynidae
Borhyaenoidea
Borhyaenidae
Proborhyaenidae
Thylacosmilidae
Thylacosmilus atrox
Polydolopimorphia
Polydolopimorphia
Bonapartheriiformes
Bonapartheriidae
Argyrolagidae
Chulpasiinae
Prepidolopidae
Rosendolopidae
Polydolopiformes
Polydolopidae
Sillustaniidae
Argyrolagus palmeri
Taxon identifiers
Paraborhyaena
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