Phlaocyonini is an extinct clade or

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to confl ...

of hypocarnivorous

borophagine 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 du ...

s (bone-crushing dogs). They were endemic to North America and from the

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but ...

epoch ( Whitneyan stage) to the

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 recent" ...

( 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.Phylogenetic systematics of the Borophaginae (Carnivora, Canidae). Bulletin of the AMNH; no. 243, Wang, Tedford, Taylor.
/ref>

Fossil distribution

A few of many sites: * Wewela Site,

Turtle Butte Formation The Turtle Butte Formation is a geologic formation at Turtle Butte in South Dakota. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period. See also * List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in South Dakota * Paleontology in South Dakota ...

, Tripp County, South Dakota ('' Phlaocyon minor'') ~30.8–20.6 Ma. * Brooksville 2 Site,

Hernando County, Florida Hernando County is a county located on the west central coast of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 194,515. Its county seat is Brooksville, and its largest community is Spring Hill. Hernando County is inc ...

(''Phlaocyon taylori'') ~26.3–24.8 Ma. *

Split Rock Site Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, entertain ...

, Arikaree Formation,

Fremont County, Wyoming Fremont County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 39,234, making it the fifth-most populous county in Wyoming. Its county seat is Lander. The county was founded in 1884 and is nam ...

, ('' Cynarctoides'') ~20.6–16.3 Ma. * Cedar Run Site, Oakville Formation, Washington County, Texas ('' Phlaocyon'') ~20.3–5.3 Ma. * Nambe Site,

Tesuque Formation The Tesuque Formation is a geologic formation in north-central New Mexico, United States. The formation provides an unusually complete record of the evolution of mammals during the Miocene epoch. Description The formation is primarily siltstone ...

Santa Fe County, New Mexico Santa Fe County ( es, Condado de Santa Fe; meaning ''Holy faith'' in Spanish) is located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 144,170, making it New Mexico's third-most populous county, after Bernalillo C ...

, (''Cynarctoides acridens'') ~20.3–5.3 Ma.

Resources

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2486786 Miocene carnivorans Messinian extinctions Mammal tribes Prehistoric mammals of North America Rupelian first appearances