Amphicynodontidae is a probable clade of extinct arctoids. While some researchers consider this group to be an extinct subfamily of

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...

s, a variety of morphological evidence links amphicynodontines with

pinniped Pinnipeds (pronounced ), commonly known as seals, are a widely distributed and diverse clade of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. They comprise the extant families Odobenidae (whose only living member is the walru ...

s, as the group were semi-aquatic otter-like mammals. In addition to the support of the pinniped–amphicynodontine clade, other morphological and some molecular analyses support bears being the closest living relatives to pinnipeds. According to McKenna and Bell (1997) Amphicynodontinae are classified as stem-

pinnipeds Pinnipeds (pronounced ), commonly known as seals, are a widely range (biology), distributed and diverse clade of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammal, marine mammals. They comprise the extant taxon, extant family (biology ...

in the superfamily Phocoidea. Fossils of these mammals have been found in Europe, North America and Asia. Amphicynodontines should not be confused with Amphicyonids (bear-dogs), a separate family of

Carnivora Carnivora is a Clade, monophyletic order of Placentalia, placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all felidae, cat-like and canidae, dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are f ...

which is a sister clade to arctoids within the

caniforms Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia (seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. ...

, but which may be listed as a clade of extinct arctoids in older publications.

Systematics

* Subfamily †Amphicynodontinae Simpson, 1945 ** †'' Amphicticeps'' Matthew and Granger, 1924 *** †''Amphicticeps makhchinus'' Wang ''et al.'', 2005 *** †''Amphicticeps dorog'' Wang ''et al.'', 2005 *** †''Amphicticeps shackelfordi'' Matthew and Granger, 1924 ** †''

Parictis ''Parictis'' is an extinct arctoid, possibly the earliest genus of bears known, though a recent variety of morphological evidence links amphicynodontines with pinnipeds. It was a very small and graceful arctoid with a skull only 7 cm long. ...

'' Scott, 1893 *** †''Parictis primaevus'' Scott, 1893 *** †''Parictis personi'' Chaffee, 1954 *** †''Parictis montanus'' Clark & Guensburg, 1972 *** †''Parictis parvus'' Clark & Beerbower, 1967 *** †''Parictis gilpini'' Clark & Guensburg, 1972 *** †''Parictis dakotensis'' Clark, 1936 ** †''

Kolponomos ''Kolponomos'' is an extinct genus of carnivoran mammal that existed in the Late Arikareean North American Land Mammal Age, early Miocene epoch, about 20 million years ago. It was likely a marine mammal. The genus was erected in 1960 by Ruben A. ...

'' Stirton, 1960 *** †''Kolponomos newportensis'' Tedford ''et al.'', 1994 *** †''Kolponomos clallamensis'' Stirton, 1960 ** †'' Allocyon'' Merriam, 1930 *** †''Allocyon loganensis'' Merriam, 1930 ** †'' Pachycynodon'' Schlosser, 1888 *** †''Pachycynodon tedfordi'' Wang & Qiu, 2003 *** †''Pachycynodon tenuis'' Teilhard de Chardin, 1915 *** †''Pachycynodon filholi'' Schlosser, 1888 *** †''Pachycynodon boriei'' (Filhol, 1876) *** †''Pachycynodon crassirostris'' Schlosser, 1888 ** †''

Amphicynodon ''Amphicynodon'' was an extinct genus of caniform carnivore. It has traditionally been considered early bear, although recent evidence has suggested it may be a unique member linked to other pinnipeds. It was endemic to Europe and Asia during t ...

'' Filhol, 1881 *** †''Amphicynodon mongoliensis'' Janovskaja, 1970 *** †''Amphicynodon teilhardi'' Matthew and Granger, 1924 *** †''Amphicynodon typicus'' Schlosser, 1888 *** †''Amphicynodon chardini'' Cirot and De Bonis, 1992 *** †''Amphicynodon cephalogalinus'' Teilhard, 1915 *** †''Amphicynodon gracilis'' (Filhol, 1874) *** †''Amphicynodon crassirostris'' (Filhol, 1876) *** †''Amphicynodon brachyrostris'' (Filhol, 1876) *** †''Amphicynodon leptorhynchus'' (Filhol, 1874) *** †''Amphicynodon velaunus'' (Aymard, 1846)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q33139445 Miocene carnivorans