''Kelba quadeemae'' is an extinct species of

ptolemaiida Ptolemaiida is a taxon of wolf-sized afrothere mammals that lived in northern and eastern Africa during the Paleogene. The oldest fossils are from the latest Eocene strata of the Jebel Qatrani Formation, near the Fayum oasis in Egypt. A tooth is ...

n mammal, the sole species of the family Kelbidae, known from the

Lower Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 Ma to 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). It was prec ...

of East Africa. The genus name ''Kelba'' derives from the Arabic (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

Ptolemaiidans Miocene mammals of Africa Fossil taxa described in 1965 {{Paleo-afrotheria-stub