Osbornodon Explained

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 .^[1] It was the last surviving genus of the hesperocyonine subfamily, the oldest subfamily of canids. The genus is named for Henry Fairfield Osborn.^[2]

Species

Seven known species of Osbornodon existed:

• Osbornodon brachypus Cope 1881
• Osbornodon fricki Wang 1994 (18 Ma)
• Osbornodon iamonensis Sellards 1916 (21 Ma)
• Osbornodon renjiei Wang 1994 (33 Ma)
• Osbornodon sesnoni Macdonald 1967 (32 Ma)
• Osbornodon scitulus Hay 1924
• Osbornodon wangi Hayes 2000

The earlier species were about the size of a small fox, and had teeth suggesting an omnivorous or hypocarnivorous diet. Later species were larger and more actively predaceous. The last species, O. fricki, was about the size of a large wolf.^[3]

References

• R. M. Nowak. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. Maryland, Johns Hopkins University Press (edited volume) II

Notes and References

1. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=41226 Paleobiology Database: Osbornodon
2. Book: Wang, Xiaoming . Dogs: their fossil relatives and evolutionary history . Tedford . Richard H. . Antón . Mauricio . 2010 . Columbia University Press . 978-0-231-13529-0 . New York . 3. Diversity: Who is Who in the Dog Family.
3. Book: Wang . Xiaoming . Tedford . Richard H. . 2008 . Dogs, Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History . Columbia . 31 . 978-0-231-13528-3.