''Proterix'' is an extinct genus of erinaceid mammal from the Late

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 ...

to the 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 ...

of North America.

Ecology

''Proterix'' was most likely a burrowing insectivore. The original reference suggests reduced limbs may be possible, due to the unusually high number of lumbar vertebrae, but cautions that conclusions must be reserved until a complete skeleton is found. This proposal was exaggerated in a popular science book by Dougal Dixon, which speculated that it may have been a limbless mammal with an armored head. Though very little of the post-cranial skeleton has been found, this situation is typical for mammals and not an indicator of unusual anatomy.

References

Oligocene mammals of North America Miocene mammals of North America Erinaceidae Fossil taxa described in 1903 {{paleo-eulipotyphla-stub