Biology:Ectopocynus

Short description: Extinct genus of carnivores

Ectopocynus Temporal range: Oligocene–Early Miocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Subfamily:	†Hesperocyoninae
Genus:	†Ectopocynus Wang, 1994
Type species
†Ectopocynus simplicidens
Species
†E. antiquus Wang, 1994 †E. intermedius Wang, 1994 †E. simplicidens Wang, 1994

Ectopocynus ("strange dog") is an extinct genus of bone crushing canid which inhabited North America from the Oligocene to the Early Miocene. It lived from 33.3 to 16.0 Ma and existed for approximately 17.3 million years.

Remains of Ectopocynus are limited to mandibles and teeth only. These reveal that the animal had simple, robust, and blunt yet massive premolars and reduced or lost cusps on the lower molars. In this respect, Ectopocynus had many of the characteristics of Enhydrocyon. This dentition suggests this animal was a hypercarnivore or mesocarnivore.

References

• Wang, X. 1994. Phylogenetic systematics of the Hesperocyoninae (Carnivora, Canidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 221:1-207.

Wikidata ☰ Q3718788 entry