Ischyrocyon

Ischyrocyon is an extinct genus of bear dogs, of the subfamily Amphicyoninae, which inhabited North America during the Late Miocene. It lived ~13.6—10.3 Ma ago, existing for approximately 4 million years .[1]

Ischyrocyon
Temporal range: Barstovian-Clarendonian
~13.6–10.3 Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: †Amphicyonidae
Subfamily: †Amphicyoninae
Genus: †Ischyrocyon
Matthew and Gidley (1904)
Species
  • Ischyrocyon gidleyi Matthew, 1902
  • Ischyrocyon hyaenodus Matthew & Gidley, 1904

Behavior

In a study published in 2020, examination of the relative grinding area of the molars of Ischyrocyon indicated that it was purely carnivorous, and not omnivorous as previously assumed. Both Ischyrocyon and its relative, Amphicyon possessed skeletal features that are characteristic of both ambush and pursuit living predators. As such, it is believed via this evidence that Ischyrocyon probably pursued prey for longer distances but at slower speeds than living ambush predators do. Upon catching up to its prey, Ischyrocyon probably grabbed its victims using its powerfully muscled forelimbs before killing them by tearing into the prey's ribcage or neck using its large, strong canines set in its narrow snout.[2]

Fossil distribution

References
  1. [Ischyrocyon at Fossilworks]
  2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/40661208_Ecomorphology_of_the_giant_bear-dogs_Amphicyon_and_Ischyrocyon
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