{{Short description|Extinct genus of carnivores}} {{Speciesbox |fossil_range = Late [[Miocene]] |image = Chamitataxus avitus.jpg |image_caption = |display_parents = 2 |genus = Chamitataxus |parent_authority = [[Pamela Owen|Owen]], 2006 |species = avitus |authority = [[Pamela Owen|Owen]], 2006 }}

'''''Chamitataxus''''' is a prehistoric [[badger]] [[genus]]. '''''Chamitataxus avitus''''' is the only known [[species]] of the genus.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Owen |first1=P.R. |year=2006 |title=Description of a new Late Miocene American Badger (Taxidiinae) utilizing high-resolution x-ray computed tomography |journal=Palaeontology |volume=49 |issue=5 |pages=999–1011 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2006.00590.x|bibcode=2006Palgy..49..999O |s2cid=128919144 }}</ref> ''Chamitataxus'' lived during the Late [[Miocene]], around 6&nbsp;million years ago in what is now [[North America]]. Out of the three [[Taxidiinae|taxidiine]] badger genera to have existed on the continent, ''Chamitataxus'' is the most primitive. Very few taxideine badger remains have been uncovered to date, with only prehistoric ''[[Taxidea]]'' and ''[[Pliotaxidea]]'' specimens being discovered prior to the ''Chamitataxus'' [[holotype]] being found.

==Description== ''Chamitataxus'' is known only from a single holotype found in 1935, which consists of a nearly complete [[skull]]. The holotype was discovered in a quarry not far from Lyden, [[New Mexico]], where the prehistoric [[herbivore]] ''[[Osbornoceros]]'' was also discovered. ''Chamitataxus'' was named after the [[rock formation]] it was discovered in, the [[Chamita Formation]]. Due to the relative lack of ''Chamitataxus'' specimens, much of the research into the genus is based upon research into better-represented taxa related to ''Chamitataxus'', such as ''[[Taxidea]]'', the modern American badger, which also existed in the Late Miocene.

''Chamitataxus'' was fairly similar to its modern-day relatives in most respects; it was a [[carnivore]] and judging from the skull found, it looked fairly similar. However, because so little of ''Chamitataxus'' has been found, estimating its size and other features is impossible; much is unknown about the genus. ''Chamitataxus'' had a very good sense of smell and had a firm grip like its modern equivalent and this enabled ''Chamitataxus'' to kill burrowing animals with a bite to the neck. Like other [[mammal]]s, ''Chamitataxus'' excelled at hearing low-frequency noises, which it could hear at a long distance.{{cn|date=December 2019}} Overall, ''Chamitataxus'' was an expert hunter based on scientists'{{who|date=December 2019}} findings, and was able to prey on many different types of land-dwelling creatures during the Miocene.

==References== {{Wikispecies|Chamitataxus}} {{No footnotes|date=February 2009}} {{reflist}}

{{Musteloidea|Mae.|state=collapsed}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q16745574}} {{Portal|Paleontology}}

[[Category:Badgers]] [[Category:Miocene mustelids]] [[Category:Miocene carnivorans]] [[Category:Miocene mammals of North America]] [[Category:Prehistoric mustelids]] [[Category:Extinct animals of the United States]] [[Category:Miocene genus first appearances]] [[Category:Miocene genus extinctions]] [[Category:Fossil taxa described in 2006]] [[Category:Monotypic prehistoric carnivoran genera]]