Enhydrocyon is an extinct genus of bone-crushing borophagine canid which inhabited North America during the Oligocene and Early Miocene, 30.8—20.4 Ma, existing for approximately . Enhydrocyon at fossilworks
Description Enhydrocyon had more specialised and strongly decussating Hunter-Schreger bands (HSBs) compared to earlier canids. It possessed a short snout and deep jaws reminiscent of a jaguar. These features give the skull a shape resembling that of the extant sea otter (Enhydra), prompting the scientific name. Enhydrocyon had an estimated weight of about .
Palaeobiology
Diet Species of Enhydrocyon were relatively large, powerfully built carnivores.David Macdonald. The Velvet Claw: A Natural History of the Carnivores. BBC Books: London; 1992. p83. Enhydrocyon was the earliest genus of canid adapted to be specialized predators. The dentition of Enhydrocyon suggests this animal was a hypercarnivore or mesocarnivore.R. M. Nowak. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. Maryland, Johns Hopkins University Press (edited volume) II
Species †Enhydrocyon basilatus Cope 1879 †E. crassidens Matthew 1907 †E. pahinsintewakpa Macdonald 1963 †E. sectorius Cope 1883 †E. stenocephalus Cope 1879
References