| Kelba Temporal range: Early Miocene-Middle Miocene
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|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Ptolemaiida |
| Family: | †Kelbidae Cote et al., 2007 |
| Genus: | †Kelba Savage, 1965 |
| Species: | †K. quadeemae
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| Binomial name | |
| †Kelba quadeemae Savage, 1965
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Kelba quadeemae is an extinct species of ptolemaiidan mammal, the sole species of the family Kelbidae, known from the Lower Miocene of East Africa.[1] The genus name Kelba derives from the Arabic الكلب (pronounced kalb or kelb) meaning "dog", and the specific name quadeemae from the Arabic quadeem, meaning "ancient".[2] 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.[1]
- ^ a b Cote, S.; Werdelin, L.; Seiffert, E. R.; Barry, J. C. (2007). "Additional material of the enigmatic Early Miocene mammal Kelba and its relationship to the order Ptolemaiida". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 104 (13): 5510–5515. Bibcode:2007PNAS..104.5510C. doi:10.1073/pnas.0700441104. PMC 1838468. PMID 17372202.
- ^ Savage, R. J. G. (1964). "Fossil mammals of Africa: 19, The Miocene Carnivora of East Africa". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 10: 239–316.