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{{Automatic taxobox
{{Taxobox
⚫
|fossil_range = {{fossilrange|33.9|20.6}} <small>Early [[Oligocene]]-Early [[Miocene]]</small>
|name = ''Miotapirus''
|image = Tapirus priscus mandible.JPG
⚫
|fossil_range = {{fossilrange|33.9|20.6}} <small>Early [[Miocene]]</small>
| image = Protapirus.JPG
|image_caption = Mandible of ''Protapirus priscus''
⚫
|taxon = Protapirus
| image_width = 250px
⚫
|authority = Filhol, 1877
| image_caption = Skull
|type_species = †'''''Protapirus priscus'''''
|regnum = [[Animal]]ia
|type_species_authority = Filhol, 1874
|phylum = [[Chordata]]
|classis = [[Mammalia]]
⚫
|ordo = [[Perissodactyla]]
|superfamilia = [[Tapiroidea]]
|familia = [[Tapiridae]]
⚫
|genus = '''''Protapirus'''''
⚫
|genus_authority = Filhol (1877)
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision =
|subdivision =
*''P. aginensis''
⚫
*''Protapirus obliquidens'' <small>(syn. Tanyops undans)</small>,
*''P. bavaricus''
⚫
*''Protapirus simplex'' <small>(syn. P. validus)</small>
*''P. cetinensis''
*''P. douvillei''
*''P. gromovae''
⚫
*''P. obliquidens'' <small>(syn. Tanyops undans)</small>
*''P. priscus''
⚫
*''P. simplex'' <small>(syn. P. validus)</small>
}}
}}

⚫
[[Image:Protapirus robustus .jpg|thumb|left|''Protapirus robustus'' jaw]]
'''''Protapirus''''' is an extinct genus of [[tapir]]. Fossil specimens of this genus have been found in [[North America]] and [[Europe]].<ref name="TPBDBProtapirus">[http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=43134&is_real_user=1 The Paleobiology Database]</ref>
'''''Protapirus''''' (Latin: "before" (pro), + Brazilian Indian: "tapir" (tapira)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://research.amnh.org/paleontology/perissodactyl/concepts/glossary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120123130/https://research.amnh.org/paleontology/perissodactyl/concepts/glossary|archive-date=20 November 2021|title=Glossary. American Museum of Natural History}}</ref>) is an extinct genus of [[tapir]] known from the [[Oligocene]] and [[Miocene]] of [[North America]] and [[Eurasia]].<ref name="TPBDBProtapirus">[http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=43134&is_real_user=1 The Paleobiology Database]</ref>

==Taxonomy==
The type species is ''Protapirus priscus'' from the Late Oligocene of [[Quercy|Quercy, France]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cerdeño |first1=E. |last2=Ginsburg |first2=L. |title=European Oligocene and early Miocene Tapiridae (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) |journal=Annales de Paléontologie |date=1988 |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=71–96 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282383341}}</ref> ''Protapirus'' is often considered the earliest true tapir, or at least a tapiroid that is the direct ancestor of the true tapir family.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stanley |first1=S.M. |title=Living Fossils |date=2012 |publisher=Springer New York |isbn=9781461382713}}</ref>

==Distribution and history==
⚫
[[File:Protapirus.JPG|thumb|left|Skull of ''Protapirus sp.'']]
The oldest species is the North American ''P. simplex'' from the [[White River Formation]]. A later North American species is ''P. obliquidens'' From North America, the genus spread into Eurasia during the Oligocene,<ref>{{cite journal |title= |journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=18 |issue= 1–2 |date=1998}}{{full|date=September 2023}}</ref> with five species known from the Oligocene and Miocene of [[Europe]] and a single species (''P. gromovae'') from [[Kazakhstan]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bayshashov |first1=Bolat U. |title=Records of TAPIROIDEA GRAY, 1825 (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from KAZAKHSTAN – AN OVERVIEW |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae |date=2011 |volume=7 |pages=1–7 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266486243}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Protapirus.jpg|thumb|left|Restoration of ''P. simplex'' without trunk]]
They were of similar size to modern tapirs, but had more primitive features, such as premolars that were less molariform in shape. In comparison to more primitive tapiroids, ''Protapirus'' had retracted nasal region which may indicate the presence of a trunk.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Agustí |first1=Jordi |last2=Antón |first2=Mauricio |title=Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe |date=2002 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=9780231116411 |page=91}}</ref> However, the nasals were not as shortened as in modern tapirs, so the proboscis would have likely been less prominent.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Rachel C. |title=The White River Badlands: Geology and Paleontology |date=2015 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=9780253016089 |page=156}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
* Classification of Mammals by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell
* The Beginning of the Age of Mammals by Kenneth D. Rose


{{Taxonbar|from=Q7251183}}
⚫
[[Category:Prehistoric odd-toed ungulates]]
⚫
[[Category:Oligocene mammals]]
⚫
[[Category:White River Fauna]]


[[Category:Prehistoric tapirs]]
{{paleo-mammal-stub}}
⚫
[[Category:Prehistoric placental genera]]
[[Category:Oligocene Perissodactyla]]
⚫
[[Category:Miocene Perissodactyla]]
⚫
[[Category:White River Fauna]]
[[Category:Oligocene mammals of Europe]]
⚫
[[Category:Oligocene mammals of Asia]]
[[Category:Oligocene mammals of North America]]
[[Category:Miocene mammals of Europe]]
[[Category:Miocene mammals of Asia]]
[[Category:Miocene mammals of North America]]

Latest revision as of 19:04, 30 December 2023

Protapirus
Temporal range: 33.9–20.6 Ma Early Oligocene-Early Miocene
Mandible of Protapirus priscus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Tapiridae
Genus: †Protapirus
Filhol, 1877
Type species
†Protapirus priscus
Filhol, 1874
Species
  • P. aginensis
  • P. bavaricus
  • P. cetinensis
  • P. douvillei
  • P. gromovae
  • P. obliquidens (syn. Tanyops undans)
  • P. priscus
  • P. simplex (syn. P. validus)

Protapirus (Latin: "before" (pro), + Brazilian Indian: "tapir" (tapira)[1]) is an extinct genus of tapir known from the Oligocene and Miocene of North America and Eurasia.[2]

Taxonomy[edit]

The type species is Protapirus priscus from the Late Oligocene of Quercy, France.[3] Protapirus is often considered the earliest true tapir, or at least a tapiroid that is the direct ancestor of the true tapir family.[4]

Distribution and history[edit]

Skull of Protapirus sp.

The oldest species is the North American P. simplex from the White River Formation. A later North American species is P. obliquidens From North America, the genus spread into Eurasia during the Oligocene,[5] with five species known from the Oligocene and Miocene of Europe and a single species (P. gromovae) from Kazakhstan.[6]

Description[edit]

Restoration of P. simplex without trunk

They were of similar size to modern tapirs, but had more primitive features, such as premolars that were less molariform in shape. In comparison to more primitive tapiroids, Protapirus had retracted nasal region which may indicate the presence of a trunk.[7] However, the nasals were not as shortened as in modern tapirs, so the proboscis would have likely been less prominent.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Glossary. American Museum of Natural History". Archived from the original on 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ The Paleobiology Database
  3. ^ Cerdeño, E.; Ginsburg, L. (1988). "European Oligocene and early Miocene Tapiridae (Perissodactyla, Mammalia)". Annales de Paléontologie. 74 (2): 71–96.
  4. ^ Stanley, S.M. (2012). Living Fossils. Springer New York. ISBN 9781461382713.
  5. ^ Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 18 (1–2). 1998. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[full citation needed]
  6. ^ Bayshashov, Bolat U. (2011). "Records of TAPIROIDEA GRAY, 1825 (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from KAZAKHSTAN – AN OVERVIEW". Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae. 7: 1–7.
  7. ^ Agustí, Jordi; Antón, Mauricio (2002). Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe. Columbia University Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780231116411.
  8. ^ Benton, Rachel C. (2015). The White River Badlands: Geology and Paleontology. Indiana University Press. p. 156. ISBN 9780253016089.
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