Galecyon

Galecyon ("polecat dog") is a genus of hyaenodont that lived during the early Eocene in Europe and North America (found in the Clarks Fork and Powder River basins of Wyoming).[3][1]

Galecyon
Temporal range: Wasatchian, 55.8–48.6 Ma
lower jaw of Galecyon chronius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: †Hyaenodonta
Genus: †Galecyon
Gingerich & Deutsch, 1989[1]
Type species
†Galecyon mordax
Matthew & Granger, 1915
Speacies
  • †Galecyon chronius
  • †Galecyon gallus
  • †Galecyon mordax
  • †Galecyon morloi
  • †Galecyon peregrinus
Synonyms

Description

Galecyon had robust canines and short, deep jaws. Prior to 2015, little was known about its post-cranial skeleton.[1] However, following the discovery of more complete fossils, it is now known to have been a primarily terrestrial animal weighing between 5.2 and 7.9 kg (11 and 17 lb), lacking the adaptations for climbing found in some of its close relatives.[4]

Taxonomy
  • Genus: †Galecyon
    • †Galecyon chronius (Zack, 2011)[5]
    • †Galecyon gallus (Solé, 2013)[6]
    • †Galecyon mordax (Matthew & Granger, 1915)[7]
    • †Galecyon morloi (Smith & Smith, 2001)[8]
    • †Galecyon peregrinus (Zack, 2011)

References
  1. Gingerich, Philip D.; Deutsch, Harvey A. (1989). "Systematics and evolution of early Eocene Hyaenodontidae (Mammalia, Creodonta) in the Clarks Fork Basin, Wyoming". 27 (13). Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan: 327–391. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. E. Delson (1971.) "Fossil mammals of the early Wasatchian Powder River local fauna, Eocene of northeast." Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 146(4)
  3. PaleoBiology Database: Galecyon, basic info
  4. Zack, S. P.; Rose, K. D. (November 2015). "A postcranial skeleton of Galecyon: evidence for morphological and locomotor diversity in early Hyaenodontidae (Mammalia, Hyaenodontida)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35 (6): e1001492. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.1001492. S2CID 86247155.
  5. Shawn P. Zack (2011) "New Species of the Rare Early Eocene Creodont Galecyon and the Radiation of Early Hyaenodontidae" Journal of Paleontology, 85(2):315-336.
  6. F. Solé, E. Gheerbrant, and M. Godinot (2013.) "Sinopaninae and Arfianinae (Hyaenodontida, Mammalia) from the Early Eocene of Europe and Asia; evidence for dispersal in Laurasia around the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and for an unnoticed faunal turnover in Europe." Geobios 46:313-327
  7. W. D. Matthew and W. Granger. (1915.) "A revision of the Lower Eocene Wasatch and Wind River faunas." Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 34(1):1-103
  8. T. Smith and R. Smith (2001.) "The creodonts (Mammalia, Ferae) from the Paleocene-Eocene transition in Belgium (Tienen Formation, MP7)." Belgian Journal of Zoology 131(2):117-135
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