Cynarctus is an extinct canid

Canidae

Canidae is the biological family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and domestic dogs. A member of this family is called a canid . The Canidae family is divided into two tribes: Canini and Vulpini...

 of the subfamily Borophaginae

Borophaginae

The subfamily Borophaginae is an extinct group of canids called "bone crushing dogs" that were endemic to North America during the Oligocene to Pliocene and lived roughly 36—2.5 million years ago and existing for approximately .-Origin:...

 which inhabited most of North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 during the Late Miocene

Late Miocene

The Late Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch....

 subepoch (15.9—10.3 mya). Cynarctus existed for approximately .

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 (11.28 lbs). The second specimen was estimated to weigh 5.16 kg (11.3 lbs).

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been uncovered in California, Maryland, western Nebraska, and Texas.