Psalidocyon
| Psalidocyon | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivoramorpha |
| Family: | † Borophaginae |
| Genus: | † Psalidocyon Wang, 1999 |
| Binomial name | |
| † Psalidocyon marinae Wang, 1999 | |
| Type species | |
| † Psalidocyon marinae | |
Psalidocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene subepoch through the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch 20.6—13.6 Ma, existing for about 7 mya..[1]
Morphology
Fossil specimens of two individuals' body mass were examined by Legendre and Roth. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 6.53 kg (14 lb). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 6.31 kg (14 lb).[2]
Species
P. marianae was named by Wang and others in 1999.
Sister genera
Cormocyon, Desmocyon, Euoplocyon, Metatomarctus, Microtomarctus, Protomarctus, and Tephrocyon.[3]
Fossil distribution
It was initially found on Skull Ridge, Tesuque, New Mexico in a Miocene terrestrial horizon. It is the type species of Psalidocyon.
Sources
- ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Psalidocyon Taxonomy, Species
- ↑ S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology
- ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Psalidocyon Species