Oligocene Dog Skull Replica

$50.00

Oligocene Dog or Hesperocyon gregarius 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 Mid-Eocene 42.5 mya to 31.0 mya.

Description

Oligocene Dog Skull Replica measures 3.9 inches. Oligocene Dog Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Hesperocyon gregarius is the scientific name. Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home décor skull, or office décor skull.

Oligocene Dog or Hesperocyon gregarius 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 Mid-Eocene 42.5 mya to 31.0 mya. Canis gregarius Hesperocyon existed for approximately 11.5 million years.

Oligocene Dog or Hesperocyon gregarius was assigned to Borophagini by Wang et al. 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 to 30 Ma), Borophaginae (~36 to 2 Ma), and the Caninae lineage that led to present-day Canidae, inclusive of modern-day wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).

At least 28 known species of Hesperocyoninae evolved out of Hesperocyon, including those in the following five genera: Ectopocynus (32 to 19 mya), Osbornodon (32 to 18 mya), Paraenhydrocyon (20 to 25 mya), Mesocyon (31 to 15 mya) and Enhydrocyon (31 to 15 mya).

This early, 80 centimeter long Oligocene Dog or Hesperocyon gregarius looked more like a civet or a small raccoon. Its body and tail were long and flexible, while its limbs were weak and short.

Still, the build of its ossicles and distribution of its teeth showed it was a canid. Although it was definitely a carnivore, the Oligocene Dog or  Hesperocyon gregarius may also have been an omnivore, unlike the hypercarnivorous Borophaginae that later split from this canid lineage.

Green River Formation. Wyoming. Most common dog of the Oliogocene. Tree climber.

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Additional information

Weight 2 lbs
Dimensions 3.9 in
Oligocene Dog Facts

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Subfamily: †Hesperocyoninae
Genus: †Hesperocyon
Type species: †Canis gregarius