Amphicyoninae is a subfamily of extinct amphicyonids, large terrestrial carnivores sometimes called "bear-dogs", belonging to the suborder Caniformia, which inhabited North America, Eurasia, and Africa from the middle Eocene to the late Miocene.
Amphicyoninae was first named by Trouessart (1885). It was assigned to Canidae by Matthew (1902), to Ursidae by Ginsburg (1977) and to Amphicyonidae by Hunt (1998).W. D. Matthew. 1902. New canidae from the Miocene of Colorado. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 16(21):281-290L. Ginsburg. 1977. Les carnivores du Miocene de Beni Mellal (Maroc). Geologie Mediterraneene 4(3):225-240R. M. Hunt. 1998. Amphicyonidae. 196-227
Genera include: Amphicyon, found in both Europe and N. America Cynelos, synonyms include Absonodaphoenus (from Florida) and Hecubides (from Africa), endemic to N. America Cynodictis Ischyrocyon (syn. Hadrocyon), endemic to N. America Goupilictis Magericyon Paludocyon Pliocyon, endemic to N. America Pseudocyon (syn. Amphicyonopsis), endemic to Europe and N. America
Fossil distribution Specimens have been recovered from: Midway Site, Gadsden County, Florida ~18.9—18.8 Ma. Rabbitt Creek Site, Meagher County, Montana ~21.7—18 Ma. Grimes Landing Site, King William County, Virginia ~17.6 Ma. Arrisdrift, Namibia ~23.03—11.6 Ma. Les Beilleaux, France ~20—16.9 Ma.
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