title: Protursus
text: # Protursus
  
  Protursus is a fossil genus of ailurid with a single species Protursus simpsoni, known from a single left m2 tooth.
  
  ## Taxonomy & Evolution
  
  Protursus simpsoni was believed to be an ursid (bear) closely related to Ursavus by its original describers. In 1977, Thenius lumped the species into the genus Simocyon as Simocyon simpsoni, but this was rejected in 2005, instead being split back into Protursus, though as a member of the subfamily Simocyoninae.
  
  ## Description
  
  Protursus simpsoni is known from only a single specimen, a left m2 found at the Late Miocene Can Llobateras site in Spain.
  
  