Suborder Caniformia Rank Subtribe | Phylum Chordata | |
Similar Cynarctoides, Cormocyon, Carpocyon, Otarocyon | ||
Cynarctina is an extinct hypocarnivorous canine sub-tribe clade of Borophaginae. Cynarctina lived during the Hemingfordian stage of Early Miocene through Clarendonian stage of the Middle Miocene 20.6—10.3 Ma, existing for approximately 4.3 million years.
Contents
Taxonomy
Cynarctina was named by Wang et al. (1999). It was assigned to Borophagini by Wang et al. (1999).
Physical characteristics
Cynarctines feature the most dention having tubercles or rounded cusps on the molar teeth known among canids. Metatomarctus, Euoplocyon, Psalidocyon, Microtomarctus, Protomarctus, and Tephrocyon (the next series of taxa) are of medium size and occupy a sequence having projections resembling the teeth of a comb and have a rather diverse dentition. These include the most hypercarnivorous borophagine Euoplocyon, the peculiarly distinct Psalidocyon, and the dwarf lineage Microtomarctus.