Tapocyon Temporal range: middle Eocene |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivoramorpha |
Family: | †Miacidae |
Genus: | †Tapocyon Stock, 1934 |
Type species | |
†Tapocyon occidentalis |
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Species | |
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Tapocyon[1] is an extinct genus of Miacidae, a family of primitive carnivores. Tapocyon was first discovered in Ventura County, when part of a jaw was found in the 1930's.[2] A representative fossil of Tapocyon robustus was found in Oceanside, California.[2] The animal was about the size of a coyote[2] and is believed to have been a good climber that spent a lot of time in trees.[2]