Aelurodon
Encyclopedia
Aelurodon is an extinct canine
genus
of the subfamily Borophaginae
which lived from the Barstovian
land mammal age (16 Mya) of the middle Miocene
to the Clarendonian
age of the late Miocene
(9 Mya). Aelurodon existed for approximately .
of canids loosely known as "bone-crushing" or "hyena-like" dogs, that apparently descended from the earlier genera Protomarctus
and Tomarctus
. Several species are known from fossils found in the central and western U.S., suggesting a wide geographic range during their peak in the Miocene
epoch. Large species of Aelurodon (A. ferox and A. taxoides) may have hunted in packs like modern wolves.
such as Epicyon
(20.6—5.330 Ma), Paratomarctus
(16.3—5.3 Ma), Borophagus
(23.3—3.6 Ma), Carpocyon
(20.4—3.9 Ma), and the first emerging wolf, Canis lepophagus
(10.3—1.8 Ma).
Aelurodon asthenostylus existed from 20.6—13.6 Mya . It was named by Wang et al. in 1999. Fossils of A. asthenostylus have been uncovered in western Nebraska, northern Colorado, Nevada and south central California. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 33.0 kg (73.5 lbs) and 29.4 kg (64.8 lbs).
Aelurodon ferox existed from 16.3—10.3 Mya and was named by Leidy in 1858. Specimens have been found in western Nebraska, New Mexico, to the Texas gulf coast and to southern Montana. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 45.6 kg (100.5 lbs) and 39.9 kg (88 lbs).
Aelurodon mcgrewi existed from 16.3—13.6 Mya with fossils known from western Nebraska. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 30.6 kg (67.4 lbs) and 34.7 kg (76.5 lbs).
Aelurodon montaneis existed from 16.3—13.6 Mya .
Aelurodon stirtoni existed from 16.3—10.3 Ma . Fossil specimens were uncovered in western Nebraska and New Mexico. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 33.9 kg (74.7 lbs) and 29.3 kg (64.5 lbs).
Aelurodon taxoides existed from 13.6—5.330 Mya . Fossil specimens were uncovered in Florida, south and north Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and the bay area of California. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 56.3 kg (124 lbs) and 48.8 kg (107.5 lbs).
The name Aelurodon was given by Joseph Leidy
in 1858. The smaller Aelurodon lineage evolved teeth adapted to a more purely carnivorous (hypercarnivorous
) diet, a trend consistent with other borophagines. Some specimens of the largest species, Aelurodon taxoides, reached the size of a tiger
.
Canidae
Canidae is the biological family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and domestic dogs. A member of this family is called a canid . The Canidae family is divided into two tribes: Canini and Vulpini...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the subfamily Borophaginae
Borophaginae
The subfamily Borophaginae is an extinct group of canids called "bone crushing dogs" that were endemic to North America during the Oligocene to Pliocene and lived roughly 36—2.5 million years ago and existing for approximately .-Origin:...
which lived from the Barstovian
Barstovian
The Barstovian North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology , typically set from 16,300,000 to 13,600,000 years BP, a period of . It is usually considered to overlap the Langhian and Serravallian...
land mammal age (16 Mya) of the middle Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
to the Clarendonian
Clarendonian
The Clarendonian North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology , typically set from 13,600,000 to 10,300,000 years BP, a period of . It is usually considered to overlap the Serravallian of the Middle...
age of the late Miocene
Late Miocene
The Late Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch....
(9 Mya). Aelurodon existed for approximately .
Origin
Aelurodon are a part of a cladeClade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
of canids loosely known as "bone-crushing" or "hyena-like" dogs, that apparently descended from the earlier genera Protomarctus
Protomarctus
Protomarctus is an extinct member of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Burdigalian stage of the Miocene epoch 20.4—15.9 Mya, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
and Tomarctus
Tomarctus
Tomarctus is a canine of the extinct subfamily Borophaginae which inhabited most of North America during the late Early Miocene to the Early Barstovian age of the Middle Miocene . Tomarctus existed for approximately ....
. Several species are known from fossils found in the central and western U.S., suggesting a wide geographic range during their peak in the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
epoch. Large species of Aelurodon (A. ferox and A. taxoides) may have hunted in packs like modern wolves.
Canid competitors
Aelurodon lived during a period with other canidae, specifically BorophaginaeBorophaginae
The subfamily Borophaginae is an extinct group of canids called "bone crushing dogs" that were endemic to North America during the Oligocene to Pliocene and lived roughly 36—2.5 million years ago and existing for approximately .-Origin:...
such as Epicyon
Epicyon
Epicyon is a large extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae , native to North America. It lived from the Hemingfordian age of the Early Miocene to the Hemphillian of the Late Miocene Epicyon ("near dog") is a large extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae ("bone-crushing dogs"),...
(20.6—5.330 Ma), Paratomarctus
Paratomarctus
Paratomarctus an extinct member of the Borophaginae, subtribe Borophagina, a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America from the Harrisonian stage to Early Barstovian stage of the Miocene epoch living 16.3—5.3 mya, existed for approximately .-Canid competitors:Paratomarctus was one...
(16.3—5.3 Ma), Borophagus
Borophagus
Borophagus is an extinct genus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch through the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene epoch 23.3—3.6 Mya. Borophagus existed for approximately .-Overview:Borophagus, like other borophagines, are loosely...
(23.3—3.6 Ma), Carpocyon
Carpocyon
Carpocyon is an extinct member of the Borophaginae, and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene through the Hemphillian stage of the Late Miocene epoch 20.4—3.9 Mya. Carpocyon existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Carpocyon was...
(20.4—3.9 Ma), and the first emerging wolf, Canis lepophagus
Canis lepophagus
Canis lepophagus or Hare-eating Wolf is an extinct species of canidae which was endemic to much of North America and lived from the Miocene epoch through Early Pleistocene, 10.3—1.8 Mya. The species existed for approximately . It is one of the more basal species of Canis, having existed before most...
(10.3—1.8 Ma).
Species
Six species of Aelurodon are recognized.Aelurodon asthenostylus existed from 20.6—13.6 Mya . It was named by Wang et al. in 1999. Fossils of A. asthenostylus have been uncovered in western Nebraska, northern Colorado, Nevada and south central California. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 33.0 kg (73.5 lbs) and 29.4 kg (64.8 lbs).
Aelurodon ferox existed from 16.3—10.3 Mya and was named by Leidy in 1858. Specimens have been found in western Nebraska, New Mexico, to the Texas gulf coast and to southern Montana. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 45.6 kg (100.5 lbs) and 39.9 kg (88 lbs).
Aelurodon mcgrewi existed from 16.3—13.6 Mya with fossils known from western Nebraska. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 30.6 kg (67.4 lbs) and 34.7 kg (76.5 lbs).
Aelurodon montaneis existed from 16.3—13.6 Mya .
Aelurodon stirtoni existed from 16.3—10.3 Ma . Fossil specimens were uncovered in western Nebraska and New Mexico. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 33.9 kg (74.7 lbs) and 29.3 kg (64.5 lbs).
Aelurodon taxoides existed from 13.6—5.330 Mya . Fossil specimens were uncovered in Florida, south and north Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and the bay area of California. Two specimens had an estimated body mass of 56.3 kg (124 lbs) and 48.8 kg (107.5 lbs).
The name Aelurodon was given by Joseph Leidy
Joseph Leidy
Joseph Leidy was an American paleontologist.Leidy was professor of anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania, and later was a professor of natural history at Swarthmore College. His book Extinct Fauna of Dakota and Nebraska contained many species not previously described and many previously...
in 1858. The smaller Aelurodon lineage evolved teeth adapted to a more purely carnivorous (hypercarnivorous
Hypercarnivore
A hypercarnivore is an animal which has a diet that is more than 70% meat, with the balance consisting of non-animal foods such as fungi, fruits or other plant material. Some examples include the big cats, dolphins, eagles, snakes, marlin, most sharks, and such invertebrates as octopuses and sea...
) diet, a trend consistent with other borophagines. Some specimens of the largest species, Aelurodon taxoides, reached the size of a tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
.
Additional Reading
- Xiaoming Wang, Richard H. Tedford, Mauricio Antón, Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History, New York : Columbia University Press, 2008; ISBN 978-0-231-13528-3