Patriofelis
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| Genus: | Patriofelis Leidy, 1872
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Patriofelis (Latin: Father Cat) was a large, cat-like oxyaenid of middle Eocene, some 45 million years ago in North America. It was around 1.2 to 1.8 metres (3.9 to 5.9 ft) long, not including the tail, and weighed about 40–90 kg, making it around the same size as a modern cougar. It had short legs with broad feet, suggesting that it may have been a poor runner, but a quite good swimmer. As its close relative Oxyaena was a reasonably good climber, it is possible Patriofelis could climb as well (Robbins 2006). It is found in particular in the Bridger Basin of southwestern Wyoming and at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, in the U.S. state of Oregon.
References
Gallery
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Categories:
- Oxyaenidae
- Eocene carnivorans
- Eocene mammals of North America
- Prehistoric carnivorans of North America
- Extinct carnivorans
- Extinct mammals of North America
- John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
- Paleogene geology of Oregon
- Eocene genus first appearances
- Eocene genus extinctions
- Taxa named by Joseph Leidy
- Fossil taxa described in 1872