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''Ischyrocyon'' is an extinct genus of amphicyonids that inhabited
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
during the Late
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 ...
. It lived ~13.6—10.3 Ma ago, existing for approximately .


Behavior

In a study published in 2020, examination of the relative grinding area of the molars of ''Ischyrocyon'' indicated that it was purely carnivorous, and not omnivorous as previously assumed. Both ''Ischyrocyon'' and its relative, ''
Amphicyon ''Amphicyon'' is an extinct genus of large carnivorans belonging to the family Amphicyonidae (known colloquially as "bear-dogs"), subfamily Amphicyoninae, from the Miocene epoch. Members of this family received their vernacular name for possessin ...
'' possessed skeletal features that are characteristic of both ambush and pursuit living predators. As such, it is believed via this evidence that ''Ischyrocyon'' probably pursued prey for longer distances but at slower speeds than living ambush predators do. Upon catching up to its prey, ''Ischyrocyon'' probably grabbed its victims using its powerfully muscled forelimbs before killing them by tearing into the prey's ribcage or neck using its large, strong canines set in its narrow snout.


Fossil distribution

* Blair Junction,
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~14.2—11.7 Ma. * Hemicyon Quarry Site,
Barstow Formation The Barstow Formation is a series of limestones, conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones and shales exposed in the Mojave Desert near Barstow in San Bernardino County, California.Dibblee, T.W., Jr. (1967). Areal Geology of the Western Mojave Dese ...
,
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~14.0 Ma. * Adam Risley Ranch Site, Goliad Formation,
Donley County, Texas Donley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,258. Its county seat is Clarendon. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1882. History Donley County was established in ...
~12—11.7 Ma. * WaKeeney (Unit C)
Ogallala Formation The Ogallala Formation is a Miocene to early Pliocene geologic formation in the central High Plains of the western United States and the location of the Ogallala Aquifer. In Nebraska and South Dakota it is also classified as the Ogallala Group ...
, Trego County, Kansas ~11.8—11.7 Ma. * Olcott Hill, Snake Creek Formation,
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~11.9 Ma. * Iron Canyon Site, Dove Spring Formation,
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~11.8—11.9 Ma. * Bluejay Quarry Site,
Ash Hollow Formation The Ash Hollow Formation of the Ogallala Group is a geological formation found in Nebraska and South Dakota. It preserves fossils dating back to the Neogene Period (geology), period. It was named after Ash Hollow, Nebraska and can be seen in Ash ...
,
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~11.8 Ma.


References

Amphicyonidae Miocene Amphicyonidae Miocene mammals of North America Barstovian Clarendonian Fossil taxa described in 1904 Prehistoric carnivoran genera {{paleo-carnivora-stub