Cynodictis
Encyclopedia
Cynodictis, is a member of extinct terrestrial
carnivore
s belonging to the family
Amphicyonidae, suborder Caniformia
, and which inhabited Euroasia
and Asia
from the Late Eocene subepoch to the Early Oligocene subepoch living from 37.2—28.4 Ma, existing for approximately .
Cynodictis was one of the oldest amphicyonids, and was not ancestor of the canids, as it was believed some decades ago.
scissor teeth for slicing chunks of meat off carcasses. It lived on the grassy plains of North America
, but researchers think it may have climbed trees in search of prey. It was about 30 cm at the shoulder - a small, carnivorous, dog-like mammal that could run very fast and dig efficiently. It used its speed to chase down rabbit
s and small rodent
s, but may also have been able to dig them out of their burrows. Cynodictis lived on open, semi-arid plains that were crisscrossed by rivers.
Using its digging skills, Cynodictis would make itself dens in steep riverbanks, which it would line with mouted fur and vegetation. In here the female Cynodictis would give birth to a litter of around five pups, which she would feed and protect for several months, suckling them at first, then later bringing them food. Unfortunately, the dens would sometimes be destroyed by flash flood
s that killed all the animals inside, but preserved them as fossils.
to the Isle of Wight
, Great Britain
as well as Weisserburg, Germany
and 3 sites in France
.
, Amphicyanis
, Arctamphicyon, Brachycyon
, Drassonax
, Goupilictis, Guangxicyon
, Haplocyon
, Haplocyonoides
, Haplocyonopsis
, Harpagophagus
, Ictiocyon
, Pachycynodon, Paradaphoenus
, Protemnocyon, Pseudarctos
, Pseudamphicyon
, Pseudocyonopsis
, Sarcocyon, Symplectocyon, Vishnucyon.
. In the first episode, Dew Dawn, the creature was shown very briefly and attacked by the prehistoric whale Ambulocetus
. Cyondictis were more prominent in the third episode Land of Giants, where they were identified as "bear-dogs". One "bear-dog" drives away a young Indricothere from her litter of pups.
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 family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Amphicyonidae, 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...
, 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 Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
from the Late Eocene subepoch to the Early Oligocene subepoch living from 37.2—28.4 Ma, existing for approximately .
Cynodictis was one of the oldest amphicyonids, and was not ancestor of the canids, as it was believed some decades ago.
Taxonomy
Cynodictis had a long muzzle and a low-slung body. It had carnassialCarnassial
Carnassials are large teeth found in many carnivorous mammals, used for shearing flesh and bone in a scissor- or shear-like way. In the Carnivora, the carnassials are the modified last upper premolar and the first molar, but in the prehistoric creodonts, the carnassials were further back in the...
scissor teeth for slicing chunks of meat off carcasses. It lived on the grassy plains 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...
, but researchers think it may have climbed trees in search of prey. It was about 30 cm at the shoulder - a small, carnivorous, dog-like mammal that could run very fast and dig efficiently. It used its speed to chase down rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s and small rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s, but may also have been able to dig them out of their burrows. Cynodictis lived on open, semi-arid plains that were crisscrossed by rivers.
Using its digging skills, Cynodictis would make itself dens in steep riverbanks, which it would line with mouted fur and vegetation. In here the female Cynodictis would give birth to a litter of around five pups, which she would feed and protect for several months, suckling them at first, then later bringing them food. Unfortunately, the dens would sometimes be destroyed by flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
s that killed all the animals inside, but preserved them as fossils.
Fossil distribution
Fossil specimens have been found from Mengjiapo, ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
as well as Weisserburg, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and 3 sites in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Sister genera
AfrocyonAfrocyon
Afrocyon is an extinct genus of large, mostly carnivorous bone-crushing mammals known as bear dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae endemic to Africa during the Miocene to Pliocene living from 11.6—5.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
, Amphicyanis
Amphicyanis
Amphicyanis is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae , and which inhabited Euroasia and North America....
, Arctamphicyon, Brachycyon
Brachycyon
Brachycyon is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae , and which inhabited Euroasia and North America. Brachycyon was named by Filhol...
, Drassonax
Drassonax
Drassonax is an extinct genus of small, weasel-like bear dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae endemic to North America during the Oligocene living from 33.9—33.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
, Goupilictis, Guangxicyon
Guangxicyon
Guangxicyon is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae , and which inhabited Central Asia from the Late Eocene subepoch to the Late Miocene subepoch 37—33 Ma, existing for approximately .Guangxicyon was named by Zhai et al. in 2003. Its...
, Haplocyon
Haplocyon
Haplocyon is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae named by Schlosser in 1901.-Sister genera:...
, Haplocyonoides
Haplocyonoides
Haplocyonoides is an extinct family of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae , and which inhabited Europe from the Early Miocene subepoch —...
, Haplocyonopsis
Haplocyonopsis
Haplocyonopsis is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae .Haplocyonopsis was named by de Bonis and was assigned to Amphicyonidae by Carroll .-Sister genera:...
, Harpagophagus
Harpagophagus
Harpagophagus is an extinct genus of large, mostly carnivorous bone-crushing mammals known as bear dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae endemic to Europe during the Oligocene living from 33.9—23.03 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
, Ictiocyon
Ictiocyon
Ictiocyon is an extinct genus of large, mostly carnivorous bone-crushing mammals known as bear dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae endemic to Asia during the Miocene living from 23.03—15.97 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
, Pachycynodon, Paradaphoenus
Paradaphoenus
Paradaphoenus is a physically small member of the extinct family of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae , and which inhabited North America from the Early Oligocene subepoch to the Early Miocene subepoch living 33.9—16.3 Ma, existing for approximately...
, Protemnocyon, Pseudarctos
Pseudarctos
Pseudarctos is a member of the extinct family Amphicyonidae of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, and which inhabited Euroasia from the Early Miocene subepoch to the Miocene epoch 16.9—11.1 Ma, existing for approximately ....
, Pseudamphicyon
Pseudamphicyon
Pseudamphicyon is a member of the extinct family Amphicyonidae of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia.Pseudamphicyon was named Schlosser in 1899 and was assigned to Amphicyonidae by Carroll .-Sister genera:...
, Pseudocyonopsis
Pseudocyonopsis
Pseudocyonopsis is a member of the extinct family Amphicyonidae, a terrestrial carnivore belonging to the order Caniformia.Pseudocyonopsis was named by Kuss in 1965 and was assigned to Amphicyonidae by Carroll .-Sister genera:...
, Sarcocyon, Symplectocyon, Vishnucyon.
Documentary
Cyondictis is depicted in two episodes of the series Walking with BeastsWalking with Beasts
Walking with Beasts is a 2001 six-part television documentary miniseries, produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom, narrated by Kenneth Branagh. In North America it has been retitled Walking with Prehistoric Beasts, and the original Discovery Channel broadcast was narrated by Stockard Channing...
. In the first episode, Dew Dawn, the creature was shown very briefly and attacked by the prehistoric whale Ambulocetus
Ambulocetus
Ambulocetus was an early cetacean that could walk as well as swim. It lived during early Eocene some 50-49 million years ago. It is a transitional fossil that shows how whales evolved from land-living mammals. The Ambulocetus fossils were found in Pakistan by anthropologist Johannes Thewissen...
. Cyondictis were more prominent in the third episode Land of Giants, where they were identified as "bear-dogs". One "bear-dog" drives away a young Indricothere from her litter of pups.