Daphoenodon

Daphoenodon is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore, which lived in the early Miocene and belonged to the family Amphicyonidae ("bear dogs") of the suborder Caniformia.[1] The species of Daphoenodon are characterized by limbs that are specialized in fore and aft movement, as well as a body alignment that results in a lengthened stride. [2]

Daphoenodon
Temporal range: 20.43–15.97 Ma
↓
Early - Middle Miocene
D. superbus skeleton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: †Amphicyonidae
Subfamily: †Daphoeninae
Genus: †Daphoenodon
Peterson 1909
Species
  • †D. falkenbachi
  • †D. notionastes
  • †D. robustum
  • †D. skinneri
  • †D. superbus
Synonyms

Borocyon

Restoration of D. superbus
D. superbus skull

Species

D. falkenbachi was a larger species that was found in northern Goshen, southeastern Platte Counties, Wyoming, and Nebraska. A smaller species, D. skinneri, was found in southern Wyoming.[1] In one large species, D. robustum, the forelimb is elongated, making the adaptation for pursuing prey over open terrain very evident. The skeletal structure of D. robustum shows a predator that shares characteristics with highly evolved modern species—wolves and cheetahs—as well as large ambush wild cats (felids)—lions and tigers.[2]

References
  1. Hunt, R. M. (2002). "New Amphicyonid Carnivorans (Mammalia, Daphoeninae) from the Early Miocene of Southeastern Wyoming". American Museum Novitates. 385: 1–41. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2002)385<0001:NACMDF>2.0.CO;2.
  2. Hunt, R.M. (2009). "Long-Legged Pursuit Carnivorans (Amphicyonidae, Daphoeninae) from the Early Miocene of North America". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 318: 1-95.
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