| Kelba Temporal range: Early Miocene-Middle Miocene 22–12.5 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Ptolemaiida |
| Family: | †Kelbidae Cote et al., 2007 |
| Genus: | †Kelba Savage, 1965 |
| Species: | †K. quadeemae |
| Binomial name | |
| †Kelba quadeemae Savage, 1965 | |
Kelba quadeemae is an extinct species of ptolemaiidan mammal, the sole species of the family Kelbidae, known from the Lower Miocene of East Africa. The genus name Kelba derives from the Arabic الكلب (pronounced kalb or kelb) meaning "dog", and the specific name quadeemae from the Arabic quadeem, meaning "ancient". Kelba is only known from a partial skull and teeth, but estimated to have been (around 15 kg), similar in size to a coyote but more heavily built. The teeth are rather unspecialized, suggesting a wide and varied diet, and show wear suggesting its diet included abrasive material.
References
- ^ Cote, S.; Werdelin, L.; Seiffert, E. R.; Barry, J. C. (2007). "Additional material of the enigmatic Early Miocene mammal Kelba and its relationship to the order Ptolemaiida". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 104 (13): 5510–5515. Bibcode:2007PNAS..104.5510C. doi:10.1073/pnas.0700441104. PMC 1838468. PMID 17372202.
- Savage, R. J. G. (1964). "Fossil mammals of Africa: 19, The Miocene Carnivora of East Africa". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 10: 239–316.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Kelba quadeemae | |
| Kelba | |
| Kelbidae | |
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