Paratomarctus fossil map
Where fossils of Paratomarctus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 15 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 23.04–4.7 million years ago (Aquitanian to Zanclean) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Canidae |
| Named by | Wang et al. 1999 |
| Fossil records | 146 occurrences at 28 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Valentine, Ash Hollow, Barstow, txn:41189, Fleming, Tesuque |
About Paratomarctus
Paratomarctus is an extinct monospecific genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived from the Middle to Late Miocene, 16.3 – 5.3 mya, existing for approximately 11 million years. It was about the size of a coyote, and was probably a generalised predator, without the specialised adaptations of most later borophagines.
Paratomarctus was one of the last of the Borophaginae and shared its habitat with other canids, including Borophagus, Epicyon, Carpocyon, Aelurodon, and the true canine, Canis lepophagus. Fossils have been uncovered throughout most of the western United States.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Paratomarctus (revision 1258220941), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q3561735.
