| Borophagus orc[1] | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | †Borophagus |
| Species: | †B. orc |
| Binomial name | |
| †Borophagus orc Webb, 1969 | |
Borophagus orc is an extinctspecies of thegenusBorophagus of thesubfamilyBorophaginae, a group ofcanids endemic toNorth America from the 5.3 to 4.9Mya.Borophagus orc existed for approximately0.4 million years.[2]
Borophagus, like other Borophaginae, are loosely known as "bone-crushing" or "hyena-like" dogs. Though not the most massive borophagine by size or weight, it had a more highly evolved capacity to crunch bone than earlier, larger genera such asEpicyon, which seems to be an evolutionary trend of the group (Turner, 2004). During the Pliocene epoch,Borophagus began being displaced byCanis genera such asCanis edwardii and later byCanis dirus. Early species ofBorophagus were placed in the genusOsteoborus until recently, but thegenera are now considered synonyms.[1]Borophagus orc possibly led a hyena-like lifestyle scavenging carcasses of recently dead animals.[3]
Typical features of this genus are a bulging forehead and powerful jaws; it was probably ascavenger.[4] Its crushingpremolar teeth and strong jaw muscles would have been used to crack open bone, much like thehyena of the Old World. The adult animal is estimated to have been about 80 centimetres (31 in) in length, similar to acoyote, although it was much more powerfully built.[5]
Borophagus orc was recombined by X. Wang in 1999. It was previously namedOsteoborus orc.[6]
Specimens have been found at only two sites: nearWithlacoochee River,Florida and coastalNorth Carolina.
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