Phlaocyon 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...

 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 Whitneyan

Whitneyan

The Whitneyan 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 33,300,000 to 30,800,000 years BP, a period of . It is usually considered to fall within the Early Oligocene...

 stage of the Early Oligocene through Late Hemingfordian

Late Hemingfordian

The Late Hemingfordian 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 20,430,000 to 16,300,000 years BP, a period of . It is usually considered to overlap the Early Miocene...

 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....

 epoch 33.3—16.3 Mya existing for approximately .

Taxonomy

Phlaocyon was about 80 centimetres (31.5 in) in body length, and looked more like a cat

Cat

The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...

 or raccoon

Raccoon

Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...

 than a dog, but its skull

Skull

The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...

 anatomy shows it to be a primitive canine. Phlaocyon probably lived like a raccoon, often climbing trees. Its head was short, wide, and had forward-facing eyes. Unlike modern canines, Phlaocyon had no specialised teeth for slicing flesh. It is thought to have been an omnivore

Omnivore

Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...

.

Body mass

Two specimens were examined by Legendre and Roth for body mass.

• Specimen 1 was estimated to weigh 1.81 kg (4 lb).
• Specimen 2 was estimated to weigh 1.87 kg (4.1 lb).

Fossil distribution

• Foree Site, John Day Formation
  John Day Formation
  The John Day Formation is series of rock strata exposed in the John Day River basin of north-central Oregon in the United States. The strata, which vary in age from 39 million years to 18 million years, were formed mainly from ashfalls from volcanoes to the west...
  
  , Wheeler County, Oregon
  Wheeler County, Oregon
  As of the census of 2000, there were 1,547 people, 653 households, and 444 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile . There were 842 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile...
  
   (P. latidens) ~30.8—20.6 Ma.
• Brooksville 2 Site, Hernando County, Florida
  Hernando County, Florida
  Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 130,802. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 165,409 . Its county seat is Brooksville, Florida. The majority of the county's population is in Spring Hill, west portion of Hernando...
  
   (P. taylori) ~30.8—20.6 Ma.
• SB-1A Live Oak Site, Suwannee County, Florida
  Suwannee County, Florida
  Suwannee County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,844. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 38,624 . Its county seat is Live Oak, Florida. Suwannee County was a dry county until August, 2011.....
  
   (P. leucosteus) ~24.8—20.6 Ma.
• Buda Mine, Alachua County, Florida
  Alachua County, Florida
  Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
  
   (P. indent) ~24.8—20.6 Ma.
• Wewela Site, Tripp County, South Dakota
  Tripp County, South Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 6,430 people, 2,550 households, and 1,721 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 3,036 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
  
   (P. minor) ~26.3—24.8 Ma.

Species

• Phlaocyon achoros
  Phlaocyon achoros
  Phlaocyon achoros is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited the southeastern North America from the Late Oligocene to Miocene living 24.6—20.8 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Phlaocyon achoros...
  
  
• Phlaocyon annectens
  Phlaocyon annectens
  Phlaocyon annectens is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid endemic to central and western North America from the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene living 24.6—20.8 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Phlaocyon...
  
  
• Phlaocyon latidens
  Phlaocyon latidens
  Phlaocyon latidens is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited southeastern North America from the Late Oligocene to Miocene living 33.3—20.6 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Phlaocyon latidens was...
  
  
• P. leucosteus
• Phlaocyon mariae
  Phlaocyon mariae
  Phlaocyon mariae is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited central western North America from the Miocene living 20.6—16.3 Ma., and existed for approximately ....
  
  
• Phlaocyon marslandensis
• Phlaocyon minor
• Phlaocyon multicuspus
• Phlaocyon taylori
• Phlaocyon yatkolai

General references

• 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