Borophagus diversidens
| Borophagus diversidens[1] |
|
|---|---|
|
Fossil
|
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: |
†Borophagus
Cope (1892)
|
| Type species | |
| †Borophagus diversidens |
|
| Synonyms | |
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Borophagus diversidens ("devouring glutton") is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch through the Pliocene epoch 4.9—1.8 Ma. Borophagus dudleyi existed for approximately 3.1 million years.[2]
Contents
Overview
Borophagus diversidens was named by Cope in 1892. Members of its subfamily, Borophaginae, are loosely known as "bone-crushing" or "hyena-like" dogs. Though not the most massive borophagine by size or weight, it had a more highly evolved capacity to crunch bone than earlier, larger genera such as Epicyon, which seems to be an evolutionary trend of the group (Turner, 2004). During the Pliocene epoch, Borophagus began being displaced by Canis genera such as Canis edwardii and later by Canis dirus. Early species of Borophagus were placed in the genus Osteoborus until recently, but the genera are now considered synonyms.[1] B. diversidens possibly led a hyena-like lifestyle scavenging carcasses of recently dead animals.
Taxonomy
Typical features of this genus are a bulging forehead and powerful jaws; it was probably a scavenger.[3] Its crushing premolar teeth and strong jaw muscles would have been used to crack open bone, much like the hyena of the Old World. The adult animal is estimated to have been about 80 cm in length, similar to a coyote, although it was much more powerfully built.[4]
Morphology
Two fossil specimens of Borophagus diversidens were measured by Legendre and Roth in 1988. They estimated that specimen one weighed 89 kg (196 lbs) and the second weighed 75.4 kg (166 lbs).[5]
Recombination
Borophagus diversidens was recombined as Dinocyon Borophagus diversidens by Matthew in 1902 and then recombined as Dinocyon diversidens by Matthew the same year. It was recombined as Hyaenarctos diversidens. It has been synonymized with Felis hillianus, Hyaenognathus matthewi, Hyaenognathus pachyodon, Hyaenognathus solus, and Porthocyon dubius.
Fossil distribution
Borophagus diversidens fossil specimens are very widespread from 2 sites in central Florida to central Mexico, from western Oregon and western Washington to New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.
Species
- Borophagus dudleyi existed for 19.7 million years
- Borophagus hilli existed for 19.7 million years (synonymous with Osteoborus crassapineatus, Osteoborus progressus)
- Borophagus littoralis existed for 13 million years (syn. Osteoborus diabloensis)
- Borophagus orc existed for 5.4 million years
- Borophagus parvus existed for 6.4 million years
- Borophagus pugnator existed for 18 million years (synonymous with Osteoborus galushai)
- Borophagus secundus existed for 18 million years (synonymous with Hyaenognathus cyonoides, Hyaenognathus direptor)
Existence based on age of fossil collections and recombination with other species.
Sister genera
Carpocyon, Epicyon, Paratomarctus, Protepicyon
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Borophagus diversidens, basic info
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology: p. 85-98
- Alan Turner, "National Geographic: Prehistoric Mammals" (Washington, D.C.: Firecrest Books Ltd., 2004), pp. 112-114. ISBN 0-7922-7134-3
- Xiaoming Wang, "The Origin and Evolution of the Dog Family" Accessed 1/30/06.
