Amphicyonidae

This article is about the extinct family of mammals. For the breeds of domestic dog, see Karelian Bear Dog and Tahltan Bear Dog. For dog bears, see Hemicyoninae.
Not to be confused with Amphicynodontidae or Arctocyonidae.
Amphicyonids
Temporal range: Middle Eocene – Late Miocene
Skeleton of Amphicyon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: †Amphicyonidae
Haeckel, 1866
Subfamilies

†Amphicyoninae
†Daphoeninae
†Haplocyoninae
†Temnocyoninae
†Thaumastocyoninae

Amphicyonidae is an extinct family of terrestrial carnivorans belonging to the suborder Caniformia. They first appeared in North America in the middle Eocene (around 45 Ma), spread to Europe by the late Eocene (35 Ma), and further spread to Asia and Africa by the early Miocene (23 Ma). They had largely disappeared worldwide by the late Miocene (9-7 Ma), with the latest recorded species at the end of the Miocene in Africa. They were among the first carnivorans to evolve large body size. Amphicyonids are colloquially referred to as "bear-dogs".

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