Agnotherium is an extinct genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of large terrestrial

Terrestrial animal

Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...

 carnivore

Carnivore

A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...

s belonging to the suborder Caniformia

Caniformia

Caniformia, or Canoidea , is a suborder within the order Carnivora. They typically possess a long snout and non-retractile claws . The Pinnipedia evolved from caniform ancestors and are accordingly assigned to this group...

, family Amphicyonidae ("bear dog"), and which inhabited Euroasia

Euroasia

Euroasia is a New Zealand-based provider of European and Asian language training, cross cultural consulting and translation services.In 2007, Euroasia was recognised by National Business Review as the third most exciting company in education, for their unique contribution to the education...

 and North Africa

North Africa

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...

 from the Early Miocene

Early Miocene

The Early Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages....

 subepoch to the Middle Miocene

Middle Miocene

The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene....

 subepoch 16.9—11.6 Mya, existing for approximately .

Agnotherium was originally assigned to Thaumastocyonini by Ginsburg in 1977 and to Amphicyonidae by Carroll in 1988.

Fossil distribution

The first specimen was located in strata zone MN 4 in Alsace, France Other locations were: En Pejouan, Midi-Pyrenees Region

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...

; Pontigne. Another specimen was discovered in Bèni Mellal, Morocco

Morocco

Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...

.