Canidae Canidae (; from Latin, ''canis'', "dog") is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans, colloquially referred to as dogs, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid (). There are three subfamilies found within th ...

is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

s in the

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

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 includes

domestic dogs The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...

wolves The wolf (''Canis lupus''; plural, : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been reco ...

coyote The coyote (''Canis latrans'') is a species of canis, canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecologica ...

fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

es,

jackal Jackals are medium-sized canids native to Africa and Eurasia. While the word "jackal" has historically been used for many canines of the subtribe canina, in modern use it most commonly refers to three species: the closely related black-backed ...

dingo The dingo (''Canis familiaris'', ''Canis familiaris dingo'', ''Canis dingo'', or ''Canis lupus dingo'') is an ancient (Basal (phylogenetics), basal) lineage of dog found in Australia (continent), Australia. Its taxonomic classification is de ...

es, and many other

extant Extant is the opposite of the word extinct. It may refer to: * Extant hereditary titles * Extant literature, surviving literature, such as ''Beowulf'', the oldest extant manuscript written in English * Extant taxon, a taxon which is not extinct, ...

and

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

dog-like mammals. A member of this family is called a canid; all extant species are a part of a single subfamily,

Caninae The Caninae, known as canines, are one of three subfamily, subfamilies found within the Canidae, canid family. The other two canid subfamilies are the extinct Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae. The Caninae includes all living canids and their most ...

, and are called canines. They are found on all continents except Antarctica, having arrived independently or accompanied human beings over extended periods of time. Canids vary in size, including tails, from the 2 meter (6 ft 7 in)

wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly u ...

to the 46 cm (18 in)

fennec fox The fennec fox (''Vulpes zerda'') is a small crepuscular fox native to the deserts of North Africa, ranging from Western Sahara to the Sinai Peninsula. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which serve to dissipate heat and l ...

. Population sizes range from the

Falkland Islands wolf Falkland may refer to: * Falkland, British Columbia, a community in Canada * Falkland, Nova Scotia, a community in Canada * Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the south Atlantic Ocean * Falkland, Fife, a former burgh in Fife, Scotland ** Falklan ...

, extinct since 1876, to the domestic dog, which has a worldwide population of over 1 billion. The body forms of canids are similar, typically having long muzzles, upright ears, teeth adapted for cracking bones and slicing flesh, long legs, and bushy tails. Most species are social animals, living together in family units or small groups and behaving cooperatively. Typically, only the dominant pair in a group breeds, and a litter of young is reared annually in an underground den. Canids communicate by scent signals and vocalizations. One canid, the domestic dog, entered into a partnership with humans at least 14,000 years ago and today remains one of the most widely kept domestic animals. The 13 extant

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

and 37 species of Caninae are primarily split into two

tribes The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to conflic ...

: Canini, which includes 11 genera and 19 species, comprising the wolf-like Canina subtribe and the South American Cerdocyonina subtribe; and Vulpini, the fox-like canids, comprising 3 genera and 15 species. Not included in either tribe is the

Urocyon ''Urocyon'' (Greek: "tailed dog") is a genus of Canidae which includes the gray fox (''Urocyon cinereoargenteus'') and the island fox (''Urocyon littoralis''). These two fox species are found in the Western Hemisphere. Whole genome sequencing i ...

genus, which includes 2 species, mainly comprising the

gray fox The gray fox (''Urocyon cinereoargenteus''), or grey fox, is an omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, widespread throughout North America and Central America. This species and its only congener, the diminutive island fox (''Urocyon littora ...

and believed to be basal to the family. Additionally, one genus in Canini,

Dusicyon ''Dusicyon'' is an extinct genus of South American canids. The type species is ''Dusicyon australis'', the Falkland Islands wolf. In 1914, Oldfield Thomas established this genus, in which he included the culpeo and other South American foxes. ...

, was composed of two recently extinct species, with the

South American fox The South American foxes (''Lycalopex''), commonly called ''raposa'' in Portuguese language, Portuguese, or ''zorro'' in Spanish language, Spanish, are a genus from South America of the subfamily Caninae. Despite their name, they are not Vulpes, ...

going extinct around 400 years ago and the

going extinct in 1876. In addition to the extant Caninae, Canidae comprises two extinct

subfamilies In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

designated as

Hesperocyoninae The extinct Hesperocyoninae are one of three subfamilies found within the canid family. The other two canid subfamilies are the extinct Borophaginae and extant Caninae. Taxonomic history Hesperocyoninae are basal canids that gave rise to the o ...

and

Borophaginae The extinct Borophaginae form one of three subfamilies found within the canid family. The other two canid subfamilies are the extinct Hesperocyoninae and extant Caninae. Borophaginae, called "bone-crushing dogs", were endemic to North America du ...

. Extinct species have also been placed into Caninae, in both extant and extinct genera; at least 80 extinct Caninae species have been found, as well as over 70 species in Borophaginae and nearly 30 in Hesperocyoninae, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. The earliest canids found belong to Hesperocyoninae, and are believed to have diverged from the existing

Caniformia 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. ...

suborder around 37 million years ago.

Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

(IUCN)

Red List of Threatened Species The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biologi ...

. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the canid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species, unless otherwise noted. All extinct species (or subspecies) listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a

dagger A dagger is a fighting knife with a very sharp point and usually two sharp edges, typically designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon.State v. Martin, 633 S.W.2d 80 (Mo. 1982): This is the dictionary or popular-use de ...

symbol: "".

Classification

The family Canidae consists of 37 extant species belonging to 12 genera and divided into 194 extant subspecies, as well the extinct genus ''

'', comprising two extinct species, and 13 extinct

subspecies, which are the only canid species to go extinct since prehistoric times. This does not include

hybrid species Hybrid speciation is a form of speciation where hybridization between two different species leads to a new species, reproductively isolated from the parent species. Previously, reproductive isolation between two species and their parents was tho ...

(such as

wolfdog A wolfdog is a canine produced by the mating of a domestic dog (''Canis familiaris'') with a gray wolf (''Canis lupus''), eastern wolf (''Canis lycaon''), red wolf (''Canis rufus''), or Ethiopian wolf (''Canis simensis'') to produce a hyb ...

s or

coywolf Coywolf is an informal term for a canid hybrid descended from coyotes, eastern wolves, gray wolves and dogs. All members of the genus ''Canis'' are closely genetically related with 78 chromosomes and therefore can interbreed. One genetic study ...

s) or extinct prehistoric species (such as the

dire wolf The dire wolf (''Aenocyon dirus'' ) is an extinct canine. It is one of the most famous prehistoric carnivores in North America, along with its extinct competitor ''Smilodon''. The dire wolf lived in the Americas and eastern Asia during the Lat ...

or ''

Epicyon ''Epicyon'' ("more than a dog") is a large, extinct, canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae ("bone-crushing dogs"), native to North America. ''Epicyon'' existed for about from the Hemingfordian age of the Early Miocene, to the Hemphillian of ...

''). Modern molecular studies indicate that the 13 genera can be grouped into 3

clades A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, t ...

. Subfamily

*Tribe Canini (true dogs) **Subtribe Canina (wolf-like canids) ***Genus ''

Canis ''Canis'' is a genus of the Caninae which includes multiple extant species, such as wolves, dogs, coyotes, and golden jackals. Species of this genus are distinguished by their moderate to large size, their massive, well-developed skulls and den ...

'': six species ***Genus ''

Cuon The dhole (''Cuon alpinus''; ) is a canid native to Central, South, East and Southeast Asia. Other English names for the species include Asian wild dog, Asiatic wild dog, Indian wild dog, whistling dog, red dog, red wolf, and mountain wolf. It ...

'': one species ***Genus ''

Lupulella ''Lupulella'' is a genus of canine found in Africa. This genus consists of only two extant species, the black-backed jackal (''Lupulella mesomelas'') and the side-striped jackal (''Lupulella adusta''). Taxonomy The two species had previously ...

'': two species ***Genus '' Lycaon'': one species **Subtribe Cerdocyonina (South American canids) ***Genus ''

Atelocynus The short-eared dog (''Atelocynus microtis''), also known as the short-eared zorro or small-eared dog,de la Rosa, Carlos L.; and Nocke, Claudia. A Guide to the Carnivores of Central America: Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation. Austin: Uni ...

'': one species ***Genus ''

Cerdocyon The crab-eating fox (''Cerdocyon thous''), also known as the forest fox, wood fox, bushdog (not to be confused with the bush dog) or maikong, is an extant species of medium-sized canid endemic to the central part of South America since at least ...

'': one species ***Genus ''

Chrysocyon The maned wolf (''Chrysocyon brachyurus'') is a large canine of South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay, and is almost extinct in Uruguay. Its markings resemble those of foxes, but it is neither a fox nor a w ...

'': one species ***Genus ''

'': two species ***Genus ''

Lycalopex The South American foxes (''Lycalopex''), commonly called ''raposa'' in Portuguese, or ''zorro'' in Spanish, are a genus from South America of the subfamily Caninae. Despite their name, they are not true foxes, but are a unique canid genus more ...

'': six species ***Genus ''

Speothos ''Speothos'' is a genus of canid found in Central and South America. The genus includes the living bush dog, '' Speothos venaticus'', and an extinct Pleistocene species, '' Speothos pacivorus''. Unusually, the fossil species was identified and ...

'': one species *Tribe

Vulpini Vulpini is a taxonomic rank which represents the fox-like tribe of the subfamily Caninae (the canines), and is sister to the dog-like tribe Canini. Genera Taxonomy The taxonomy of Carnivora in general and Canidae in particular correlates with ...

(true foxes) **Genus ''

Nyctereutes ''Nyctereutes'' (Greek: ''nyx, nykt-'' "night" + ''ereutēs'' "wanderer") is a genus of canid which includes only two extant species both known as raccoon dogs; the common raccoon dog (''Nyctereutes procyonoides'') and the Japanese raccoon dog (' ...

'': two species **Genus ''

Otocyon The bat-eared fox (''Otocyon megalotis'') is a species of fox found on the African savanna. It is the only extant species of the genus ''Otocyon'' and considered a basal canid species. Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during th ...

'': one species **Genus ''

Vulpes '' Vulpes '' is a genus of the sub-family Caninae. The members of this genus are colloquially referred to as true foxes, meaning they form a proper clade. The word "fox" occurs in the common names of all species of the genus, but also appears ...

'': twelve species *Genus ''

'' (gray foxes): two species

Canids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by ''

Mammal Species of the World ''Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference'' is a standard reference work in mammalogy giving descriptions and bibliographic data for the known species of mammals. It is now in its third edition, published in late 2005, ...

'' (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, such as the promotion of the

African golden wolf The African wolf (''Canis lupaster'') or golden wolf, formerly known as the African golden jackal, is a canine native to North Africa, West Africa, the Sahel, northern East Africa, and the Horn of Africa. It is listed as least concern on the IU ...

to a separate species from the

golden jackal The golden jackal (''Canis aureus''), also called common jackal, is a wolf-like canid that is native to Southeast Europe, Southwest Asia, South Asia, and regions of Southeast Asia. The golden jackal's coat varies in color from a pale creamy y ...

, and splitting out the ''

'' genus from ''

''. Range maps are based on IUCN range data. There are several additional proposals which are disputed, such as the promotion of the

red wolf The red wolf (''Canis rufus'') is a canine native to the southeastern United States. Its size is intermediate between the coyote (''Canis latrans'') and gray wolf (''Canis lupus''). The red wolf's taxonomic classification as being a separate s ...

and

eastern wolf The eastern wolf (''Canis lycaon'' or ''Canis lupus lycaon'' or ''Canis rufus lycaon'') also known as the timber wolf, Algonquin wolf or eastern timber wolf, is a canine of debated taxonomy native to the Great Lakes region and southeastern Canad ...

as species from subspecies of the

, which are marked with a "(debated)" tag.

Subfamily Caninae

Tribe Canini

Tribe Vulpini

Urocyon

Prehistoric canids

In addition to extant canids, a number of prehistoric species have been discovered and classified as a part of Canidae. Morphogenic and molecular phylogenic research has placed them within the extant subfamily Caninae as well as the extinct subfamilies

and

. Within Caninae, prehistoric species have been placed into both extant genera and separate extinct genera. The generally accepted classification of extinct canid species is primarily based for Hesperocyoninae on work by Xiaoming Wang, curator of terrestrial mammals at the

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is the largest natural and historical museum in the western United States. Its collections include nearly 35 million specimens and artifacts and cover 4.5 billion years of history. This large coll ...

, and on work by Wang and zoologists

Richard H. Tedford Richard Hall Tedford (April 25, 1929 – July 15, 2011) was Curator Emeritus in the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, having been named as curator in 1969.Staff"14 ARE APPOINTED AT MU ...

and Beryl E. Taylor for Borophaginae and Caninae. The species and classifications listed below are all from these works; exceptions due to more recently-described species are also listed with citations. Not all of these classifications are universally accepted, and alternate classifications for species are noted below. Where available, the approximate time period the species was extant is given in millions of years before the present (Mya), based on data from the

Paleobiology Database The Paleobiology Database is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms. History The Paleobiology Database (PBDB) originated in the NCEAS-funded Phanerozoic Marine Pale ...

. All listed species are extinct; where a genus, subtribe, or tribe within Caninae comprises only extinct species, it is indicated with a dagger symbol .

Subfamily Caninae

* Tribe Canini ** Subtribe Canina *** Genus '' Aenocyon'' (1.8–0.012 Mya) **** ''A. dirus'' (

Dire wolf The dire wolf (''Aenocyon dirus'' ) is an extinct canine. It is one of the most famous prehistoric carnivores in North America, along with its extinct competitor ''Smilodon''. The dire wolf lived in the Americas and eastern Asia during the Lat ...

) (1.8–0.012 Mya) *** Genus ''

'' **** ''C. antonii'' **** '' C. apolloniensis'' (2.6–0.78 Mya) **** ''C. armbrusteri'' (

Armbruster's wolf Armbruster's wolf (''Canis armbrusteri'') is an extinct species that was endemic to North America and lived during the Irvingtonian stage of the Pleistocene epoch, spanning from 1.9 Mya—250,000 years BP.C. arnensis'' (Arno River dog) (2.6–0.78 Mya) **** ''C. brevicephalus'' **** '' C. cedazoensis'' (1.8–0.3 Mya) **** ''C. chihliensis'' **** ''C. cipio'' **** '' C. edwardii'' (23–0.78 Mya) **** '' C. etruscus'' (Etruscan wolf) (2.6–0.13 Mya) **** '' C. ferox'' (4.9–2.6 Mya) **** '' C. gezi'' **** ''C. leilhardi'' **** '' C. lepophagus'' (4.9–0.012 Mya) **** ''C. longdanensis'' **** '' C. mosbachensis'' (Mosbach wolf) (2.6–0.13 Mya) **** '' C. nehringi'' **** ''C. othmani'' **** ''C. palmidens'' **** '' C. variabilis'' *** Genus '' Cynotherium'' (0.13–0.012 Mya) **** ''C. sardous'' (

Sardinian dhole The Sardinian dhole (''Cynotherium sardous'') is an extinct insular canid which was endemic to what is now the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia (Italy) and Corsica (France), which were joined for much of the Pleistocene. It went extinct when h ...

) (0.13–0.012 Mya) *** Genus ''

Eucyon ''Eucyon'' (Greek: : good, true; : dog) is an extinct genus of medium omnivorous coyote-like canid that first appeared in the Western United States during the late Middle Miocene 10 million years ago. It was the size of a jackal and weighed ...

'' **** ''E. adoxus'' **** ''E. davisi'' (5.3–3.6 Mya) **** ''E. intrepidus'' **** ''E. monticinensis'' **** ''E. odessanus'' **** ''E. skinneri'' (13.6–10.3 Mya) **** ''E. zhoui'' *** Genus '' Lycaon'' **** ''L. magnus'' **** ''L. sekowei'' *** Genus ''

Mececyon ''Mececyon trinilensis'', the Trinil dog, is an extinct canid species that lived in Indonesia during the Pleistocene. Description The body size of ''Mececyon trinilensis'' been estimated to be about 22 kg. This size is the result of ins ...

'' **** '' M. trinilensis'' *** Genus '' Megacyon'' (3.6–2.6 Mya) **** '' M. merriami'' (3.6–2.6 Mya) *** Genus ''

Nurocyon ''Nurocyon'' is an extinct member of the dog family ( Canidae) from the Pliocene of Mongolia. ''Nurocyon chonokhariensis'' is the only species in the genus. The teeth of ''Nurocyon'' show adaptations to an omnivorous diet, comparable to the li ...

'' **** ''N. chonokhariensis'' *** Genus ''

Xenocyon ''Xenocyon'' ("strange dog") is an extinct subgenus of ''Canis''. The group includes ''Canis'' (''Xenocyon'') ''africanus'', ''Canis'' (''Xenocyon'') ''antonii'' and ''Canis'' (''Xenocyon'') ''falconeri'' that gave rise to ''Canis'' (''Xenocyon'' ...

'' **** ''X. africanus'' **** ''X. antonii'' **** ''X. falconeri'' **** ''X. lycaonoides'' (0.78–0.3 Mya) ** Subtribe Cerdocyonina *** Genus ''

'' **** ''C. ensenadensis'' **** ''C. texanus'' (4.9–1.8 Mya) *** Genus ''

'' **** ''N. abdeslami'' (3.6–2.6 Mya) **** ''N. donnezani'' **** ''N. megamastoides'' (2.6–0.13 Mya) **** ''N. sinensis'' **** ''N. terblanchei'' **** ''N. tingi'' *** Genus ''

Protocyon ''Protocyon'' is an extinct genus of large canid endemic to South and North America during the Late Pleistocene living from 781 to 12thousand years ago. Description ''Protocyon'' was a hypercarnivore, suggested by its dental adaptations. Like man ...

'' **** ''P. orcesi'' (0.78–0.012 Mya) **** ''P. scagliarum'' **** ''P. troglodytes'' (0.13–0.012 Mya) *** Genus ''

'' **** '' S. pacivorus'' (Pleistocene bush dog) *** Genus ''

Theriodictis ''Theriodictis'' is an extinct genus of hypercarnivorous wolf-like canid endemic to South America during the Pleistocene, living from 1.2 Ma- 500,000 years ago and existing for approximately . Fossil distribution The fossil remains are confi ...

'' (1.8 Mya) **** ''T. floridanus'' (1.8 Mya) * Tribe Vulpini ** Genus ''

Ferrucyon ''Ferrucyon'' is an extinct genus of omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, which inhabited North America during the Pliocene, Blancan in the NALMA classification, from about 4.9 to approximately 2.6 Ma. The type species, ''F. avius'', ...

'' *** ''F. avius'' (4.9–2.6 Mya) ** Genus ''

Metalopex ''Metalopex'' is an extinct hypocarnivorous canid mammal similar to ''Vulpes'' endemic to Late Miocene North America. Its sister taxon is the extant ''Urocyon''; together, the two genera form a clade based on dentition. These same dental cha ...

'' (10–4.9 Mya) *** ''M. bakeri'' (10–4.9 Mya) *** ''M. macconnelli'' (10–5.3 Mya) *** ''M. merriami'' (10–5.3 Mya) ** Genus ''

Prototocyon ''Prototocyon'' or ''Sivacyon'' is an extinct genus of small omnivorous canid living during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. Taxonomy ''Prototocyon'' was named by Pohle (1928) and was assigned to Canidae by Carroll (1988). Old literature ...

'' *** ''P. curvipalatus'' *** ''P. recki'' ** Genus ''

'' *** ''V. alopecoides'' (2.5–0.13 Mya) *** ''V. angustidens'' *** ''V. beihaiensis'' *** ''V. chikushanensis'' *** ''V. galaticus'' *** ''V. praecorsac'' (3.2–0.78 Mya) *** ''V. praeglacialis'' *** '' V. riffautae'' *** '' V. skinneri'' *** ''V. stenognathus'' (14–0.3 Mya) *** '' V. qiuzhudingi'' * Urocyon ** Genus ''

'' *** ''U. minicephalus'' (1.8–0.3 Mya) *** ''U. progressus'' (4.9–1.8 Mya) * Basal Caninae ** Genus ''

Leptocyon The genus ''Leptocyon'' (Greek: ''leptos'' slender + ''cyon'' dog) includes 11 species and was the first canine. They were small and weighed around . They first appeared in North America around 34 million years ago in the Oligocene at the same ...

'' (31–10 Mya) *** ''L. delicatus'' (31–20 Mya) *** ''L. douglassi'' (31–26 Mya) *** ''L. gregorii'' (25–20 Mya) *** ''L. leidyi'' (20–14 Mya) *** ''L. matthewi'' (14–10 Mya) *** ''L. mollis'' (31–20 Mya) *** ''L. tejonensis'' (14–10 Mya) *** ''L. vafer'' (14–10 Mya) *** ''L. vulpinus'' (20–16 Mya) * Unclassified ** Genus '' Protemnocyon'' (34–33 Mya) *** ''P. inflatus'' (34–33 Mya)

Subfamily Borophaginae

* Tribe

Borophagini Borophagini is a clade or tribe of the subfamily Borophaginae. This is an extinct group of terrestrial canids that were endemic and widespread throughout North America and Central America which lived during the Geringian stage of the Oligoce ...

(26–1.8 Mya) ** Genus ''

Cormocyon ''Cormocyon'' is an extinct genus of borophagine canid native to North America. It lived from the Oligocene to the Early Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of ...

'' (26–20 Mya) *** ''C. copei'' (26–20 Mya) *** ''C. haydeni'' (25–20 Mya) ** Genus ''

Desmocyon ''Desmocyon'' is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived from the Late Oligocene to the Early Miocene, 24.8—16.3 Annum, Mya, existing for approximately . It is a rarely found genus, with fossil ...

'' (20–16 Mya) *** ''D. matthewi'' (20–16 Mya) *** ''D. thomsoni'' (20–16 Mya) ** Genus '' Euoplocyon'' (20–14 Mya) *** ''E. brachygnathus'' (16–14 Mya) *** ''E. spissidens'' (20–16 Mya) ** Genus '' Metatomarctus'' (20–16 Mya) *** ''M. canavus'' (20–16 Mya) ** Genus ''

Microtomarctus ''Microtomarctus'' is an extinct monotypic taxon, monospecific genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Early to Middle Miocene, and existed for approximately . Fossil specimens have been found i ...

'' (16–14 Mya) *** ''M. conferta'' (16–14 Mya) ** Genus ''

Protomarctus ''Protomarctus'' is an extinct monotypic taxon, monospecific genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. They lived during the Middle Miocene 16.0—13.6 Mya (unit), Mya, existing for approximately . It was an intermed ...

'' (16–14 Mya) *** ''P. optatus'' (16–14 Mya) ** Genus '' Psalidocyon'' (16–14 Mya) *** ''P. marianae'' (16–14 Mya) ** Genus '' Tephrocyon'' (16–14 Mya) *** ''T. rurestris'' (16–14 Mya) ** Subtribe

Aelurodontina Borophagini is a clade or tribe of the subfamily Borophaginae. This is an extinct group of terrestrial canids that were endemic and widespread throughout North America and Central America which lived during the Geringian stage of the Oligoce ...

(16–5.3 Mya) *** Genus ''

Aelurodon ''Aelurodon'' is an extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae which lived from the Barstovian land mammal age () of the middle Miocene to the late Miocene epoch ().Tomarctus ''Tomarctus'' is a canid genus of the extinct subfamily Borophaginae which inhabited most of North America during the late Early Miocene to the Early Barstovian age of the Middle Miocene (23—16 million years ago). ''Tomarctus'' existed for ...

'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''T. brevirostris'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''T. hippophaga'' (16–14 Mya) ** Subtribe

Borophagina Borophagina is a subtribe of the Borophaginae, a group of extinct canids. They inhabited much of North America from the Early Miocene to the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic tim ...

(16–1.8 Mya) *** Genus ''

Borophagus ''Borophagus'' ("gluttonous eater") is an extinct genus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the Middle Miocene epoch through the Early Pleistocene epoch 12—1.8 Mya. Evolution ''Borophagus'', like o ...

'' (14–1.8 Mya) **** '' B. diversidens'' (4.9–1.8 Mya) **** '' B. dudleyi'' (5.3–3.6 Mya) **** '' B. hilli'' (5.3–3.6 Mya) **** '' B. littoralis'' (14–10 Mya) **** '' B. orc'' (5.3–4.9 Mya) **** '' B. parvus'' (10–4.9 Mya) **** '' B. pugnator'' (10–5.3 Mya) **** '' B. secundus'' (10–4.9 Mya) *** Genus ''

Carpocyon ''Carpocyon'' is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived from the Middle to the Late Miocene, 13.6 to 5.3 Ma Mya, existing for approximately . The four species in the genus varied in size, with ...

'' (16–5.3 Mya) **** ''C. compressus'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''C. limosus'' (10–5.3 Mya) **** ''C. robustus'' (14–10 Mya) **** ''C. webbi'' (14–5.3 Mya) *** Genus ''

'' (16–4.9 Mya) **** ''E. aelurodontoides'' (10–4.9 Mya) **** ''E. haydeni'' (10–4.9 Mya) **** ''E. saevus'' (16–4.9 Mya) *** Genus ''

Paratomarctus ''Paratomarctus'' is an extinct monospecific genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived from the Middle to Late Miocene, 16.3—5.3 mya, existing for approximately . It was about the size of a coyote, and was ...

'' (16–5.3 Mya) **** ''P. euthos'' (14–10 Mya) **** ''P. temerarius'' (16–5.3 Mya) *** Genus ''

Protepicyon ''Protepicyon'' is an extinct monospecific genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene 16.0—13.6 mya. One of the top predators of its time, it was the probab ...

'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''P. raki'' (16–14 Mya) ** Subtribe

Cynarctina Cynarctina is an extinct clade of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. They lived from the Early to Middle Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). Th ...

(16–10 Mya) *** Genus ''

Cynarctus ''Cynarctus'' is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. The genus was first founded by W. D. Matthew in 1901, based from a pair of lower jaws, ''Cynarctus saxitilis,'' found in the Pawnee Creek Beds of C ...

'' (16–10 Mya) **** ''C. crucidens'' (12–10 Mya) **** ''C. galushai'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''C. marylandica'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''C. saxatilis'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''C. voorhiesi'' (14–10 Mya) **** ''C. wangi'' (16–14 Mya) *** Genus ''

Paracynarctus ''Paracynarctus'' is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived from the Early Miocene to Middle Miocene 16.0—13.6 Annum, Ma, existing for approximately . It was likely an omnivore, and lacked th ...

'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''P. kelloggi'' (16–14 Mya) **** ''P. sinclairi'' (16–14 Mya) * Tribe

Phlaocyonini Phlaocyonini is an extinct clade or tribe of hypocarnivorous borophagines (bone-crushing dogs). They were endemic to North America and from the Oligocene epoch (Whitneyan stage) to the Miocene ( Early Barstovian) living ~33.3–5.3 Ma, exi ...

(30.8–13.6 Mya) ** Genus ''

Cynarctoides ''Cynarctoides'' is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived from the Early Oligocene to the Middle Miocene, 33.3—13.6 Mya, existing for approximately . Seven species are currently recognised, ...

'' (31–14 Mya) *** ''C. acridens'' (20–14 Mya) *** ''C. emryi'' (20–16 Mya) *** ''C. gawnae'' (20–16 Mya) *** ''C. harlowi'' (25–20 Mya) *** ''C. lemur'' (31–20 Mya) *** ''C. luskensis'' (25–20 Mya) *** ''C. roii'' (31–26 Mya) ** Genus ''

Phlaocyon ''Phlaocyon'' (from Greek ''phlao'', "eat greedily" and ''cyon'', "dog") is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lives from the Early Oligocene to the Early Miocene epoch 33.3–16.3 Mya, existing ...

'' (31–16 Mya) *** '' P. achoros'' (25—20 Mya) *** '' P. annectens'' (25–20 Mya) *** '' P. latidens'' (31–20 Mya) *** ''P. leucosteus'' (20–16 Mya) *** '' P. mariae''(20–16 Mya) *** ''P. marslandensis'' (20–16 Mya) *** '' P. minor'' (25–16 Mya) *** ''P. multicuspus'' (25–20 Mya) *** ''P. taylori'' (31–25 Mya) *** ''P. yatkolai'' (20–16 Mya) * Basal Borophaginae ** Genus ''

Archaeocyon ''Archaeocyon'' ("ancient dog") is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Oligocene epoch 32-24 Ma., existing for approximately . Species of ''Archaeocyon'' are among the earliest k ...

'' (31–20 Mya) *** ''A. falkenbachi'' (31–20 Mya) *** ''A. leptodus'' (31–26 Mya) *** ''A. pavidus'' (31–26 Mya) ** Genus ''

Otarocyon ''Otarocyon'' ("large eared dog") is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Oligocene epoch, about 34—30 Ma (million years ago). Fossils have been found only in Montana, Wyoming, ...

'' (34–26 Mya) *** ''O. cooki'' (31–26 Mya) *** ''O. macdonaldi'' (34–33 Mya) ** Genus ''

Oxetocyon ''Oxetocyon'' ("beginning dog") is an extinct monospecific genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Early Oligocene epoch, existing for approximately . Fossils have been found in Nebraska and Sou ...

'' (33–31 Mya) *** ''O. cuspidatus'' (33–31 Mya) ** Genus ''

Rhizocyon ''Rhizocyon'' ("root dog") is an early member of the subfamily Borophaginae, an extinct subgroup of canids that were endemic to western North America during the Oligocene epoch, living from ~31—24.5 Ma., existing for approximately . ''Rhizocy ...

'' (31–20 Mya) *** ''R. oregonensis'' (31–20 Mya)

Subfamily Hesperocyoninae

* Genus ''

Cynodesmus ''Cynodesmus'' ("dog link") is an extinct genus of omnivorous canine which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 33.3—-26.3 Ma and existed for approximately . ''Cynodesmus'' was one of the first canids to truly look dog-l ...

'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''C. martini'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''C. thooides'' (31–26 Mya) * Genus ''

Caedocyon ''Caedocyon'' ("fit for cutting dog") is an extinct monospecific genus of bone crushing canid which inhabited western North America during the Oligocene 30.8—20.6 Ma, existing for approximately . Ectopocynus'' (31–16 Mya) ** ''E. antiquus'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''E. intermedius'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''E. siplicidens'' (20–16 Mya) * Genus ''

Enhydrocyon ''Enhydrocyon'' is an extinct genus of bone crushing Canidae, canid which inhabited North America during the Oligocene and Early Miocene, 30.8—20.4 Annum, Ma, existing for approximately . ''Enhydrocyon'' dentition suggests this animal was a h ...

'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''E. basilatus'' (25–20 Mya) ** ''E. crassidens'' (26–20 Mya) ** ''E. pahinsintewkpa'' (26–20 Mya) ** ''E. stenocephalus'' (31–20 Mya) * Genus ''

Hesperocyon ''Hesperocyon'' is an extinct genus of canids (subfamily Hesperocyoninae, family Canidae) that was endemic to North America, ranging from southern Canada to Colorado. It appeared during the Uintan age, – Bridgerian age (NALMA) of the Mid-Eocene ...

'' (37–31 Mya) ** ''H. coloradensis'' (34–33 Mya) ** ''H. gregarius'' (37–31 Mya) * Genus ''

Mesocyon ''Mesocyon'' ("middle dog") is an extinct genus of the Hesperocyoninae subfamily of early canids native to North America. It lived from the Oligocene to Early Miocene, 30.3—20.3 Annum, Ma, existing for approximately . Fossils are known from Ore ...

'' (33–20 Mya) ** ''M. brachyops'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''M. coryphaeus'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''M. temnodon'' (33–20 Mya) * Genus ''

Osbornodon ''Osbornodon'' (" Osborn's tooth") is an extinct genus of canid that were endemic to North America and which lived from the Oligocene to the Early Miocene, 33.9—15.97 Ma ( AEO), existing for approximately . O. iamonensis'' (20–16 Mya) ** ''O. renjiei'' (33–31 Mya) ** ''O. scitulus'' (21–16 Mya) ** ''O. sesnoni'' (31–20 Mya) ** ''O. wangi'' (31–20 Mya) * Genus '' Paraenhydrocyon'' (25–20 Mya) ** ''P. josephi'' (25–20 Mya) ** ''P. robustus'' (25–20 Mya) ** ''P. wallovianus'' (25–20 Mya) * Genus ''

Philotrox ''Philotrox'' is an extinct monospecific genus of the Hesperocyoninae subfamily of early canids native to North America. It lived during the Oligocene, 30.8—26.3 Ma, existing for approximately .Prohesperocyon ''Prohesperocyon'' ("before ''Hesperocyon''") is an extinct genus of the first canid endemic to North America appearing during the Late Eocene around 36.6 mya ( AEO). Fossil distribution ''Prohesperocyon wilsoni'' was unearthed at the Airstri ...

'' (37–34 Mya) ** ''P. wilsoni'' (37–34 Mya) * Genus ''

Sunkahetanka ''Sunkahetanka'' is an extinct monospecific genus of the Hesperocyoninae subfamily of early canids native to North America. It lived during the Oligocene, 30.8—26.3 Ma, existing for approximately .