''Phlaocyon minor'' is an extinct species of canid mammal known from the

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but the ...

( Arikareean

NALMA The North American land mammal ages (NALMA) establishes a geologic timescale for North American fauna beginning during the Late Cretaceous and continuing through to the present. These periods are referred to as ages or intervals (or stages when ref ...

, more than ) of the United States (Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Texas.) The type specimen of ''P. minor'' is a partial maxilla, a partial dentary, and limb fragments found in Oglala Lakota County,

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota people, Lakota and Dakota peo ...

(: paleocoordinates ). referred half a dozen other specimens to ''P. minor'', including a nearly complete skull and a mandible from Wyoming. ''P. minor'' is the most basal member of ''Phlaocyon'' but it can still be distinguished from more primitive borophagines such as ''

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 ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', and ''

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, a ...

''. Characters placing it in ''Phlaocyon'' includes robust and shortened premolars, a quadrate first upper molar, and widened talonid on the first lower molar. Characters unique to ''P. minor'' include the double temporal crests and the elongated lower second molar.

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* * * * * Borophagines Oligocene canids Miocene canids Miocene species extinctions Prehistoric mammals of North America {{canid-stub