Paracynarctus is an extinct genus of the 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:...

and a terrestrial

Terrestrial animal

Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...

 canine

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...

 (Bear-dog) which inhabited most of North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 during the Early Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene

Early Miocene

The Early Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages....

 subepoch through the Early 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...

 stage of the Middle Miocene

Middle Miocene

The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene....

 subepoch 20.6—13.6 Ma, existing for approximately .

As with other Borophaginae, Paracynarctus was a "bone-crushing dog" with powerful teeth and jaws, and hyena-like features.

Morphology

Fossil specimens of two individuals' body mass were examined by Legendre and Roth. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 8.57 kg (18.9 lb). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 8.18 kg (18 lb).

Species

• P. kelloggi (synonymous with Cynodesmus casei) was recombined as Tomarctus kelloggi several times and again as Cynarctus kelloggi by Wang (1994) and again by Wang as Paracynarctus kelloggi.
• P. sinclairi was named by X. Wang.

Fossil distribution

P. kelloggi was originally found Virgin Valley, Nevada in a Barstovian terrestrial horizon.