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Borophaginae
The extinct Borophaginae form one of three subfamilies found within the canid family. The other two canid subfamilies are the extinct Hesperocyoninae and extant Caninae. Borophaginae, called "bone-crushing dogs", were endemic to North America during the Oligocene to Pliocene and lived roughly 34—2.5 million years ago, existing for about . Origin The Borophaginae descended from the subfamily Hesperocyoninae. The earliest and most primitive borophagine is the genus ''Archaeocyon'', which is a small fox-sized animal mostly found in the fossil beds in western North America. The borophagines soon diversified into several major groups. They evolved to become considerably larger than their predecessors, and filled a wide range of niches in late Cenozoic North America, from small omnivores to powerful, bear-sized carnivores, such as '' Epicyon''. Species There are 66 identified borophagine species, including 18 new ones that range from the Orellan to Blancan ages. A phylogen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58See the 2014 version of the ICS geologic time scale million years ago. It is the second and most recent epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Epoch and is followed by the Epoch. Prior to the 2009 revision of the geologic time sca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aelurodon
''Aelurodon'' is an extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae which lived from the Barstovian land mammal age () of the middle Miocene to the late Miocene epoch (). yu ''Aelurodon'' existed for approximately . Description ''Aelurodon'' are a part of a clade of loosely known as "bone-crushing" or "hyena-like" dogs, that apparently descended from the earlier genera '' |
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 Northern Hemisphere and partially in the Southern Hemisphere. Bears are found on the continents of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Common characteristics of modern bears include large bodies with stocky legs, long snouts, small rounded ears, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and short tails. While the polar bear is mostly carnivorous, and the giant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo, the remaining six species are omnivorous with varied diets. With the exception of courting individuals and mothers with their young, bears are typically solitary animals. They may be diurnal or nocturnal and have an excellent sense of smell. Despite their heavy build and awkward gait, they are adept runners, clim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arikareean
The Arikareean North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology (NALMA), typically set from 30,600,000 to 20,800,000 years BP, a period of . It is usually considered to overlap the Oligocene and Miocene epochs. The Arikareean is preceded by the Whitneyan and followed by the Hemingfordian NALMA stages. The Arikareean can be further divided into the substages of: *late Late Arikareean: Lower boundary source, base of Geringian The Geringian North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology (NALMA), typically set from 30,800,000 to 26,300,000 years BP, a period of . It is usuall ... (approximate) *early Late Arikareean: base of Geringian (approximate). Upper boundary source: base of Hemingfordian (approximate). *late Early Arikareean: Lower boundary source of base of Geringian (approximate). Upper ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rhizocyon
''Rhizocyon'' ("root dog") is an early member of the subfamily Borophaginae, an extinct subgroup of canids that were endemic to western North America during the Oligocene epoch, living from ~31—24.5 Ma., existing for approximately . ''Rhizocyon'' was similar to a contemporary species, '' Archaeocyon leptodus'', from the Great Plains, but it shows a few subtle differences in the structure of the skull and dentition that indicate that ''Rhizocyon'' may be close to the ancestry of later borophagines. Only a single species, ''R. oregonensis'', is known and all fossils come from the John Day Formation in Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it .... References * Wang, Xiaoming., R.H. Tedford, and B.E. Taylor. 1999Phylogenetic systematics of the Borophaginae (Carnivora ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Otarocyon
''Otarocyon'' ("large eared dog") is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Oligocene epoch, about 34—30 Ma (million years ago). Fossils have been found only in Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. ''Otarocyon'' was a small borophagine characterized by a short, broad skull, a specialized middle ear, simple, tall premolar teeth, and molars that are incipiently adapted to a hypocarnivorous diet. Despite its Oligocene age, the skull of ''Otarocyon'' shows several striking similarities to the living fennec fox, particularly in the structure of its middle ear. The similarities are probably convergent, but they suggest that ''Otarocyon'' may have been similar in its appearance and habits. Species *''O. macdonaldi'' Wang ''et al.'' 1999, Early Oligocene *''O. cooki'' Macdonald 1963, Late Oligocene In addition to its earlier age, ''O. macdonaldi'' differs from ''O. cooki'' in being smaller and in showing lesser devel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oxetocyon
''Oxetocyon'' ("beginning dog") is an extinct monospecific genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Early Oligocene epoch, existing for approximately . Fossils have been found in Nebraska and South Dakota. Fossils of ''Oxetocyon'' are rare and, as a result, the genus is poorly known, and only the teeth, dentaries, and a fragmentary skull have been reported. The teeth of ''Oxetocyon'' indicate a hypocarnivorous diet, as is found in the living raccoon dog, and suggest a potential relationship to the unusual borophagine ''Otarocyon ''Otarocyon'' ("large eared dog") is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Oligocene epoch, about 34—30 Ma (million years ago). Fossils have been found only in Montana, Wyoming ...''. ''Oxetocyon'' is distinguished from ''Otarocyon'' by its own set of dental specializations for an omnivorous diet, particularly by the presence of a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Borophagina
Borophagina is a subtribe of the Borophaginae, a group of extinct canids. They inhabited much of North America from the Early Miocene to the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Mya, and existed for approximately . Like some other borophagines, they were short-faced, heavy-jawed canids although the group included both omnivorous and hypercarnivorous species. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q4946287 Zanclean extinctio ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aelurodontina
Borophagini is a clade or tribe of the subfamily Borophaginae. This is an extinct group of terrestrial canids that were endemic and widespread throughout North America and Central America which lived during the Geringian stage of the Oligocene epoch to the Zanclean age of the Early Pliocene living 30.8—3.6 Mya existing approximately . Biology Borophagini were short-faced, heavy-jawed canids, usually massive in size. They were primarily carnivores but dentition demonstrates omnivore traits. Taxonomy ''Borophagini'' was named by Simpson (1945) redited to Simpson because he named Borophaginae It was assigned to Borophaginae by Wang et al. (1999) and Wang et al. (2004). Clade The clade includes: ''Cormocyon'', ''Desmocyon'', '' Metatomarctus'', '' Euoplocyon'', '' Psalidocyon'', ''Microtomarctus'', ''Protomarctus'', and '' Tephrocyon''. Subtaxa and sister taxa The subtaxa or subtribes are: '' Aelurodontina'', ''Borophagina'', and ''Cynarctina''. ''Phlaocyonini'' is a sis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cynarctina
Cynarctina is an extinct clade of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. They lived from the Early to Middle 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 recen ... 16.0—10.3 Ma, existing for approximately . Cynarctines had rounded cusps on the molar teeth, similar to those seen in living bears, suggesting that they were likely omnivores. References Miocene canids Prehistoric mammals of North America Animal subtribes {{canid-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phlaocyonini
Phlaocyonini is an extinct clade or tribe of hypocarnivorous borophagines (bone-crushing dogs). They were endemic to North America and from the Oligocene epoch (Whitneyan stage) to the Miocene ( Early Barstovian) living ~33.3–5.3 Ma, existing for approximately . The clade includes '' Cynarctoides'' and ''Phlaocyon''. These two genus members represent differing approaches of hypocarnivory. The ''Cynarctoides'' trend toward having molar teeth with crowns formed of crescent-shaped cusps and remain small in size. ''Phlaocyon'' specialize toward rounded cusps on the molar teeth but of increasing size, with an unusual trend toward being hypercarnivores by two terminal species in the clade. Four transitional species of ''Cormocyon'' and '' Desmocyon'' occupy intermediate positions between the Phlaocyonini and Cynarctina. These represent a gradual size increase toward medium-size individuals. Fossil distribution A few of many sites: * Wewela Site, Turtle Butte Formation, Trip ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clade
A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, the equivalent Latin term ''cladus'' (plural ''cladi'') is often used in taxonomical literature. The common ancestor may be an individual, a population, or a species (extinct or extant). Clades are nested, one in another, as each branch in turn splits into smaller branches. These splits reflect evolutionary history as populations diverged and evolved independently. Clades are termed monophyletic (Greek: "one clan") groups. Over the last few decades, the cladistic approach has revolutionized biological classification and revealed surprising evolutionary relationships among organisms. Increasingly, taxonomists try to avoid naming taxa that are not clades; that is, taxa that are not monophyletic. Some of the relationships between org ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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