''Psalidocyon'' is an extinct genus of the
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 d ...
subfamily of
canid
Canidae (; from Latin, ''canis'', "dog") is a family (biology), biological family of caniform carnivorans, constituting a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid (). The family includes three subfamily, subfamilies: the Caninae, a ...
s native to
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 ...
. It lived during the Early to Middle
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 ...
20.6—13.6
Ma, existing for about .
[PaleoBiology Database: ''Psalidocyon'']
/ref> Only one species is currently recognised. It was initially found on Skull Ridge, Tesuque, New Mexico. A member of the Borophagini tribe, it was an intermediate-sized canid, with specialisations towards a heavily meat-based diet.
Sources
Borophagines
Miocene canids
Serravallian extinctions
Prehistoric mammals of North America
Monotypic prehistoric carnivoran genera
Burdigalian first appearances
{{canid-stub