Tomarctus

Tomarctus Temporal range: Early Oligocene to Early Miocene
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Genus:	Tomarctus
Species
T. brevirostris T. hippophaga

Tomarctus is an extinct genus of canine which inhabited most of North America during the Early Miocene to Middle Miocene 23 Mya to 16 Mya.

Tomarctus is derived from the Nothocyon and gave rise to Borophaginae, a short-face, heavy-jawed canine usually massive in size. Tomarctus shared its period of time with a variety of bear dogs like the giant mustelid genus of bone-crushing canidae. As the bear dogs and giant mustelids became extinct, Tomarctus futher radiated to fill a line of dogs which filled the fruit eating and bone-crushing hyena-like, large bone-crushing niches.

Species within Tomarctus are T. brevirostris (synomymous Aelurodon francisi, Aelurodon simulans), T. hippophaga.

References

• Martin, L.D. 1989. Fossil history of the terrestrial carnivora. Pages 536 - 568 in J.L. Gittleman, editor. Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution, Vol. 1. Comstock Publishing Associates: Ithaca.

• Tedford, R.H. 1978. History of dogs and cats: A view from the fossil record. Pages 1 - 10 in Nutrition and Management of Dogs and Cats. Ralston Purina Co.: St. Louis.
• - Bio One Data Base - Tomarctus