Cormocyon
| Cormocyon | |
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| Cormocyon leptodus | |
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| Genus: | Cormocyon (Wang and Tedford, 1992)
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| Range of Cormocyon based on fossil distribution | |
Cormocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Geringian stage through to the Harrisonian stage of the Oligocene epoch living 30.8—20.6 Mya, existing for about 10.2 million years.[1]
Cormocyon contains two species: Cormocyon copei and Cormocyon haydeni. It was first named by Xiaoming Wang and Richard L. Tedford in 1992, who described it as a primitive borophagini genus after comparing it to Nothocyon geismarianus. The period of extinction overlaps the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene supepochs according to fossil record.
Morphology
Fossil specimens of two individuals' body mass were examined by Legendre and Roth. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 2.79 kg (6.1 lbs). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 2.82 kg (6.2 lbs).[2] It was related to the domestic dog.
Sister genera
Desmocyon, Euoplocyon, Metatomarctus, Microtomarctus, Protomarctus, Psalidocyon, and Tephrocyon.
Sources
- ^ PaleoBiology Database: Cormocyon Taxonomy, Species
- ^ S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology
- paleodb.org
- The Terrestrial Eocene-Oligocene Transition in North America By Donald R. Prothero and Robert J. Emry ISBN 0-521-43387-8
- Flynn, J.J., 1998. Early Cenozoic Carnivora ("Miacoidea"). pp. 110–123 in C.M. Janis, K.M. Scott, and L.L. Jacobs (eds.) Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America. Volume 1: Terrestrial Carnivores, Ungulates, and Ungulatelike Mammals. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN 0-521-35519-2
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