Psalidocyon

Psalidocyon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Canidae
Subfamily:†Borophaginae
Tribe:†Borophagini
Genus:†Psalidocyon
Wang, 1999
Type species
Psalidocyon marinae
Wang, 1999

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

  1. ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Psalidocyon Taxonomy, Species
  2. ↑ S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology
  3. ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Psalidocyon Species


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