Cynodesmus

Cynodesmus Temporal range: Late Oligocene to Early Miocene
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Genus:	Cynodesmus
Species
C. thooides (type) C. martini

Cynodesmus is an extinct genus of canine.

The 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long creature was one of the first canines to actually look like one. It probably looked like the modern coyote, but had a shorter skull, heavier tail and longer rump. Also, Cynodesmus was not a very good runner compared to most other canines; it probably attacked prey from an ambush. Like felines, it could (partially) retract its claws.