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Enhydrocyon

Enhydrocyon is an extinct genus of bone crushing canid which inhabited North America during the Oligocene and Early Miocene, 30.8—20.4 Ma, existing for approximately .

Enhydrocyon dentition suggests this animal was a hypercarnivore or mesocarnivore. Species of Enhydrocyon were relatively large, powerfully built carnivores with a short snout and deep jaws reminiscent of a jaguar. These features give the skull a shape resembling that of the extant sea otter (Enhydra), prompting the scientific name. With an estimated weight of about , this was the earliest genus of canid adapted to be specialized predators.

Species

  • †Enhydrocyon basilatus <small>Cope 1879</small>
  • †E. crassidens <small>Matthew 1907</small>
  • †E. pahinsintewakpa <small>Macdonald 1963</small>
  • †E. sectorius <small>Cope 1883</small>
  • †E. stenocephalus <small>Cope 1879</small>

References