Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata | |
Similar Osbornodon, Enhydrocyon, Cynarctoides, Otarocyon, Cormocyon | ||
Ectopocynus ("strange dog") is an extinct genus of small bone crushing carnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae which inhabited North America during the Oligocene. It lived from 33.3—16.0 Ma and existed for approximately 17.3 million years.
Contents
Though a carnivore, dentition suggests this animal was a hypercarnivore or mesocarnivore.
Taxonomy
Ectopocynus was named by Wang (1994). Its type is Ectopocynus simplicidens. It was assigned to Canidae by Wang (1994) and Munthe (1998).
Morphology
Two specimens were examined by Legendre and Roth for body mass. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 16.5 kg (36 lb). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 15.2 kg (34 lb).
Ectopocynus is best described as having simple, robust, and blunt yet massive premolars and reduced or lost cusp on lower molars. In this respect, Ectopocynus has many of the characteristics of Enhydrocyon. Remains of Ectopocynus are limited to mandibles and teeth only.