Bear dog
The Amphicyonidae or bear dogs, is an extinct family of large terrestrial carnivores.
| Amphicyonidae | |
|---|---|
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| Skeleton of Amphicyon | |
Scientific classification 
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| Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Amphicyonidae |
| Subfamilies | |
They belonged to the dog-like suborder Caniformia. It had a wide distribution in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. They lived from the Eocene epoch to the Pleistocene epoch 46.2 – 1.8 million years ago (mya), for a total of about 44.4 million years or from the Paleocene to the Quaternary period.[1]
Originally they evolved in the Old World, but crossed over to the Americas during the Miocene epoch. This would happen at a time when crossing was possible via the Bering Strait.[2]
Bear Dog Media
Restoration of Amphicyon ingens
Skull diagram of Daphoenus vetus
Cranium and mandible of Amphicyon, Paläontologisches Museum München
Life restoration and skeletal diagram of Daphoenodon superbus
References
- ↑ Paleobiology Database: Amphicyonidae, age range and collections. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
- ↑ Hunt, Robert M, Jr. 2003. Intercontinental migration of large mammalian carnivores: earliest occurrence of the Old World beardog Amphicyon (Carnivora, Amphicyonidae) in North America. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 279, 77-115