Prototaria fossil map
Where fossils of Prototaria 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 | 15.98–13.82 million years ago (Langhian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Odobenidae |
| Named by | Takeyama and Ozawa 1984 |
| Fossil records | 6 occurrences at 3 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Japan |
| Rock formations | Shimo, Moniwa |
About Prototaria
Prototaria is an extinct genus of pinniped that lived approximately 15.97 to 13.65 mya during the Middle Miocene in what is now Japan. It belonged to the family Odobenidae, the only extant species of which is the walrus. Members of the genus Prototaria are believed to be the most basal imagotariine pinnipeds.
Unlike their closest living relative, the walrus, members of Prototaria were primarily piscivorous carnivores.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Prototaria (revision 1345024760), 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: Q64605261.
