Borophaginae
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Borophaginae Fossil range: Oligocene to Pliocene (40 - 2.5 Ma) |
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The subfamily Borophaginae is an extinct group of canids that were endemic to North America, and lived from roughly 40 to 2.5 million years ago (Oligocene to Pliocene).[1]
The Borophaginae apparently descended from the subfamily Hesperocyoninae; they evolved to become considerably larger than their predecessors, and filled a wide range of niches in late Cenozoic North America, from small omnivores to powerful, bear-sized carnivores such as Epicyon.[1][2]
Often generically referred to as "bone-crushing dogs" for their powerful teeth and jaws, and hyena-like features (although their dentition was more primitive than that of hyenas), their fossils are abundant and widespread; in all likelihood, they were probably one of the top predators of their ecosystem.[2], Their good fossil record has also allowed a detailed reconstruction of their phylogeny, showing that the group was highly diverse in its heyday.[2]
Some borophagines were as big as modern day lions. Some resembled raccoons or coyotes and might have been omnivorous.
Noteworthy genera in this group are Aelurodon, Epicyon, and Borophagus (=Osteoborus).
[edit] Classification
Borophagine taxonomy, following Wang et al.[2]
- Family Canidae
- Subfamily †Borophaginae
- †Archaeocyon ( )
- †Oxetocyon ( )
- †Otarocyon ( )
- †Rhizocyon ( )
- Tribe †Phlaocyonini
- †Cynarctoides ( )
- †Phlaocyon ( )
- Tribe †Borophagini
- †Cormocyon
- †Desmocyon
- †Metatomarctus ( )
- †Euoplocyon ( )
- †Psalidocyon ( )
- †Microtomarctus ( )
- †Protomarctus
- †Tephrocyon ( )
- Subtribe †Cynarctina
- †Paracynarctus ( )
- †Cynarctus ( )
- Subtribe †Aelurodontina
- Subtribe †Borophagina
- †Paratomarctus ( )
- †Carpocyon
- †Protepicyon ( )
- †Epicyon ( )
- †Borophagus (=Osteoborus) ( )
- Subfamily †Borophaginae
Cladogram showing borophagine interrelationships, following Wang et al., figure 141:[2]
Canidae |
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[edit] See also
[edit] References:
- ^ Alan Turner, "National Geographic: Prehistoric Mammals" (Washington, D.C.: Firecrest Books Ltd., 2004), pp. 112-114. ISBN 0-7922-7134-3
- ^ a b Postanowicz, Rebecca. Lioncrusher's Domain: Canidae. Retrieved on 2006-04-12.
- ^ a b c d e Wang, Xiaoming; Richard Tedford, Beryl Taylor (1999-11-17). "Phylogenetic systematics of the borophaginae". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 243.
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