Hesperocyoninae Skull Replica measures 3.9 inches. Hesperocyoninae Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Oligocene Dog. Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home decor skull, or office decor skull.
Hesperocyoninae, family Canidae that was endemic to North America, ranging from southern Canada to Colorado. It appeared during the Mid-Eocene 42.5 mya to 31.0 Ma. Hesperocyon existed for approximately 11.5 million years.
Hesperocyon was assigned to Borophagini by Wang in 1999 and was the earliest of the canids to evolve after the Caniformia-Feliformia split some 42 million years ago.
Fossil evidence dates Hesperocyon gregarius to at least 37 mya, but the oldest Hesperocyon has been dated at 39.74 mya from the Duchesnean North American land mammal age.
The Canidae subfamily Hesperocyoninae probably arose out of Hesperocyon to become the first of the three great dogs groups: Hesperocyoninae (~40–30 Ma), Borophaginae (~36–2 Ma), and the Caninae lineage that led to the present-day canids (including grey wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals and dogs).
At least 28 known species of Hesperocyoninae evolved out of Hesperocyon, including those in the following five genera: Ectopocynus (32–19 mya), Osbornodon (32–18 mya), Paraenhydrocyon (20–25 mya), Mesocyon (31–15 mya) and Enhydrocyon (31–15 mya).
This early, 80-centimeter-long (2 ft 7 in) canine looked more like a civet or a small raccoon. Its body and tail were long and flexible, while its limbs were weak and short.
The build of its ossicles and distribution of its teeth showed it was a canid. It may have been an omnivore, unlike the hypercarnivorous Borophaginae that later split from this canid lineage.
The oldest fossil evidence was recovered from Saskatchewan dating from 42.5 mya to 31.0 Ma.
The youngest fossil was recovered from the Dog Jaw Butte site, Goshen County, Wyoming dating to the Arikareean age (NALMA) of the Oligocene and Miocene 42.5 mya—31.0 Ma. (AEO).
