Daphoenus lambei

Daphoenus lambei
Temporal range: 42–33.9 Ma
Oligocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Amphicyonidae
Genus: Daphoenus
Species: Daphoenus lambei
Dawson, 1980

Daphoenus lambei is an extinct species of Amphicyonidae ("bear dogs"), a family of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, which inhabited North America during the Eocene 42—33.9 Mya, existing for approximately 8.1 million years.

Daphoenus lambei existed during the Duchesnean to Chadronian ages of the Eocene.

Contents

Taxonomy

Daphoenus lambei was named by Dawson (1980). It was synonymized subjectively with Daphoenus lambei by Hunt (1996).[1]

Morphology

A single specimen was measured by Legendre and Roth in 1988 for estimated body mass.

Fossil distribution

Daphoenus lambei fossils found in Eocene Duchesnean rocks at the Big Red Horizon Site, Presidio County, Texas are dated at ~38.4—38.3 Ma. Other sites include the Badwater Locality 20 Site and Wood Locality Site, Natrona County, Wyoming ~41.8 Ma., Lac Pelletier Lower Fauna Site, Saskatchewan ~42.3 Ma.

References

  1. ^ Mary R. Dawson. 1980. Annals of Carnegie Museum 49(4)
  2. ^ S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology