Kingdom Animalia Class Mammalia Family Canidae Scientific name Caedocyon tedfordi | Phylum Chordata Order Carnivora Subfamily †Hesperocyoninae Rank Genus | |
Similar Osbornodon, Enhydrocyon, Cormocyon, Cynarctoides, Carpocyon | ||
Caedocyon ("fit for cutting dog") is an extinct genus of bone crushing omnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae which inhabited western North America during the Oligocene living from 30.8—20.6 Ma and existed for approximately 10.2 million years.
Though a carnivore, dentition suggests this animal was a hypercarnivore or mesocarnivore.
Taxonomy
Caedocyon was named by Wang (1994). It is not extant. Its type is Caedocyon tedfordi. It was assigned to Canidae by Wang (1994) and Munthe (1998).
Like other ancient and extinct members of this subfamily, Caedocyon is a very primitive or apomorphic canid form. Its position within the evolutionary study of Hesperocyoninae is not clear. It is, however, identified by having shortened upper premolars, enlarged caniniform upper third incisors, as well as reduced upper molars. Its simple, high premolars and the precision of its occlusion suggest a relation with Paraenhydrocyon.
Represented by a single partial cranium.