| Prototaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Parvorder: | Pinnipedia |
| Family: | Odobenidae |
| Genus: | †Prototaria Takeyama & Ozawa, 1984 |
| Type species | |
| †Prototaria primigena Takeyama & Ozawa, 1984 | |
| Other species | |
| |
Prototaria is an extinct genus ofpinniped that lived approximately 15.97 to 13.65 mya[1] during theMiddle Miocene in what is nowJapan. It belonged to the familyOdobenidae, the only extant species of which is thewalrus. Members of the genusPrototaria are believed to be the most basalimagotariine pinnipeds.[2]
Unlike their closest living relative, the walrus, members ofPrototaria were primarilypiscivorous carnivores.
Prototaria were more similar in appearance to modernfur seals andsea lions than walruses. They did not have long tusks as walruses do, and were more slender.
Fossils ascribed toPrototaria exhibit someautapomorphies, including: a large antorbital process andorbit, and a relatively narrow intertemporal region of the skull.[2]P. planicephala has a widerrostrum thanP. primigena as well as more specializedcheek teeth and a flattertympanic bulla.[3]
The type species ofPrototaria isP. primigena.[4] Based on skeletal traits and various autapomorphies, Naoki Kohno concluded thatP. planicephala is more derived thanP. primigena.[3]
