Prototocyon is an extinct genus of small omnivorous canid that lived during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. It is closely related to the living bat-eared fox (Otocyon).

Taxonomy

Prototocyon was named by Pohle (1928) and was assigned to Canidae by Carroll (1988). Old literature relates it to Vulpes bengalensis, but not more modern literature (e.g. McKenna and Bell. A 2013 study stated that the genus "is only doubtfully distinct from Otocyon" the genus of the living bat-eared fox.

Description

Prototocyon was a small canine similar to the bat-eared fox in overall morphology and likely in habits as well. It differed from the modern bat-eared fox mainly in its more primitive dentition.

Fossil distribution

Fossil remains of P. curvipalatus were recovered from the early Pleistocene Upper Siwaliks horizon of the Siwalik Hills, India (Colbert 1935; Pilgrim 1932). Fossils of P recki have been found in the Olduvai Gorge area of Tanzania.