''Cephalogale'' is an extinct genus of hemicyonine bear which lived in the

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch (geology), epoch of the Paleogene Geologic time scale, Period that extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that defin ...

and Early

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...

epochs in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

and

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

. It lived from around 28.4—20.0 Mya. Before it was reconsidered to be close to the ancestry of hemicyonines, ''Cephalogale'' was once considered to be an ancestor of all

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats ...

s.McLellan B. & Reiner D. C. (1994). "A review of bear evolution". ''Int. Conf. Bear Res. and Manage.'' 9(1): 85-89
PDF

Fossil distribution

*Dětaň,

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

about 33.9—28.4 Mya *Cetina de Aragon,

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

about 22.4—20 Mya *Standing Rock Quarry, Zia Sand Formation,

Sandoval County, New Mexico Sandoval County () is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 148,834, making it the fourth-most populous county in New Mexico. The county seat is Bernalillo. Sandoval County is part of the ...

about 24.8—20.6 Mya *Agate Springs Quarries, Sioux County, Nebraska about 23–5.3 Mya *Hemingford Quarry 12D, Runningwater Formation,

Box Butte County, Nebraska Box Butte County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 10,842. Its county seat is Alliance. The county was formed in 1886; it took its name from a large box-shaped butte north of All ...

about 20.6—16.3 Mya

References

Oligocene bears Miocene bears Oligocene mammals of Europe Paleogene France Fossils of France Quercy Phosphorites Formation Oligocene mammals of North America Fossil taxa described in 1862 Prehistoric carnivoran genera {{paleo-carnivora-stub