Hesperocyon is an extinct genus of canids, family of Canidae and subfamily Hesperocyoninae which was endemic to North America from southern Canada to appearing during the Uintan age-Bridgerian age (NALMA) of the Mid-Eocene 42.5 mya—31.0 Ma. (AEO).[1] Hesperocyon existed for approximately 11.5 million years.
Taxonomy[]
Hesperocyon was the earliest of the canids to evolve after the Caniformia-Feliformia split some 42 million year ago. Fossil evidence dates Hesperocyon gregarius to be at least 37 million years old, but the oldest Hesperocyon has been dated at 39.74 mya from the Duchesnean North American Land Mammal Age.[3]
The Canidae subfamily Hesperocyoninae probably arose out of Hesperocyon to become the first of the three great dogs groups: Hesperocyoninae (~40-30 Ma), Borophaginae (~36-2 Ma), and the Caninae lineage that led to present-day Canidae, inclusive of modern-day wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals and dogs (Canis familiaris). At least twenty eight known species of Hesperocyoninae evolved out of Hesperocyon, including Ectopocynus (32-19 mya), Osbornodon (32-18 mya), Paraenhydrocyon (20-25 mya), and Mesocyon-Enhydrocyon (31-15 mya).
Morphology[]
This early, 80 cm (2 ft 8 in) long canine looked more like a civet or a small raccoon than a canine. Its body and tail were long and flexible, while its limbs were weak and short. Still, the build of its ossicles and distribution of its teeth showed it was a canid. Although it was definitely a carnivore, it may also have been an omnivore - unlike the hypercarnivore Borophaginae that later split from this canid lineage.
Body mass[]
Two specimens were examined by Legendre and Roth for body mass. One specimen was estimated to weigh 1.67 kg (3.7 lb). A second was estimated to weigh 1.73 kg (3.8 lb).