Phylum Chordata Order Carnivores | Rank Genus | |
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Similar Borophaginae, Cynarctoides, Cormocyon, Carpocyon, Otarocyon | ||
Cynarctus is an extinct canid of the subfamily Borophaginae which inhabited most of North America during the Late Miocene subepoch (15.9—10.3 mya). Cynarctus existed for approximately 5.6 million years.
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Taxonomy
Cynarctus was named by Matthew in 1902. It was assigned to Amphicyoninae by Matthew (1902); to Canidae by Carroll (1988); and to Cynarctina by Wang et al. (1999).
Morphology
Two specimens were examined by Legendre and Roth for body mass. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 5.28 kg (11.6 lb). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 5.16 kg (11.4 lb).
Fossil distribution
Fossils have been uncovered in California, Maryland, western Nebraska, and Texas.
References
Cynarctus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA