Amphicyoninae
Appearance
Amphicyonidae | |
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Scientific classification | |
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Subfamily: | †Amphicyoninae Trouessart (1885)
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Genus & Tribes | |
†Amphicyon genus |
Amphicyoninae is a subfamily of extinct Amphicyonidae, large terrestrial carnivores (bear-dogs) belonging to the suborder Caniformia (meaning "dog-like") and which inhabited North America, Europe, Eurasia, Asia. and Africa from ~22.4—4.9 Ma. Amphicyoninae existed for approximately ~17.5 million years.[1]
Amphicyoninae was named by Trouessart (1885). It was assigned to Canidae by Matthew (1902); to Ursidae by Ginsburg (1977); and to Amphicyonidae by Hunt (1998).[2][3][4]
Better known genera include:
- Amphicyon, found in both Europe and N. America
- Cynelos, synonyms include Absonodaphoenus and Hecubides, endemic to N. America
- Ischyrocyon, Hadrocyon is a synonym, endemic to N. America
- Pliocyon, endemic to N. America
- Pseudocyon, Amphicyonopsis is a synonym, endemic to Europe and N. America
- Thaumastocyonini, a tribe endemic to Europe
- Ysengrinia, found in both Europe and N. America
Fossil distribution
Specimens have been recovered from:
- Midway Site, Gadsden County, Florida ~18.9—18.8 Ma.
- Rabbitt Creek Site, Meagher County, Montana ~21.7—18 Ma.
- Grimes Landing Site, King William County, Virginia ~17.6 Ma.
- Arrisdrift, Namibia ~23.03—11.6 Ma.
- Les Beilleaux, France ~20—16.9 Ma.
References
- ^ Paleobiology Database: Amphicyoninae, age range and collections
- ^ W. D. Matthew. 1902. New canidae from the Miocene of Colorado. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 16(21):281-290
- ^ L. Ginsburg. 1977. Les carnivores du Miocene de Beni Mellal (Maroc). Geologie Mediterraneene 4(3):225-240
- ^ R. M. Hunt. 1998. Amphicyonidae. 196-227