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

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but ...

and Early

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first 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 means "less recent" ...

epochs in North America and

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located enti ...

. 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 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 throughout the N ...

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

*Dětaň,

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. Th ...

about 33.9—28.4 Mya *Cetina de Aragon,

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

about 22.4—20 Mya *Standing Rock Quarry,

Zia Sand Formation Zia or ZIA (also spelled Ziya, Ḍiya , Dia or Diya) may refer to: People * Zia (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** A romanization of the Wu (Shanghainese) pronunciation of the Chinese surname Xie (謝) * ...

Sandoval County, New Mexico Sandoval County is located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,561, making it the fourth-most populous county in New Mexico. The county seat is Bernalillo. Sandoval County is part of the Albuquerqu ...

about 24.8—20.6 Mya *Agate Springs Quarries,

Sioux County, Nebraska Sioux County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 1,311. Its county seat is Harrison. Sioux County is included in the Scottsbluff, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area. In the Nebrask ...

about 23–5.3 Mya *Hemingford Quarry 12D,

Runningwater Formation The Runningwater Formation is a geologic formation in Nebraska. It preserves fossils dating back to the Hemingfordian of the Early Miocene of the Neogene period. The sandstones and conglomerates of the formation were deposited in a fluvial env ...

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 10,604. 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 Gaudry 1896, fig

References

Oligocene caniforms 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