| Otarocyon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skull ofOtarocyon cooki | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Subfamily: | †Borophaginae |
| Genus: | †Otarocyon Wang, Tedford, & Taylor, 1999 |
| Type species | |
| †Cynodesmus cooki | |
| Species | |
| |
 | |
| Range ofOtarocyon based on fossil distribution | |
Otarocyon ("large eared dog") is an extinct genus of theBorophaginae subfamily ofcanids native toNorth America. It lived during theOligocene epoch, about 33.3—20.6 Ma (million years ago).[1] Fossils have been found only inMontana,Wyoming, andSouth Dakota.[2]
Otarocyon was a small borophagine characterized by a short, broadskull, a specializedmiddle ear, simple, tallpremolar teeth, andmolars that are incipiently adapted to ahypocarnivorous diet. Despite its Oligocene age, the skull ofOtarocyon shows several striking similarities to the livingfennec fox, particularly in the structure of its middle ear. The similarities are probablyconvergent, but they suggest thatOtarocyon may have been similar in its appearance and habits.[3]
In addition to its earlier age,O. macdonaldi differs fromO. cooki in being smaller and in showing lesser development of the specializations that characterize the genus.O. macdonaldi is also the earliest known member of the subfamily Borophaginae, although the later appearingArchaeocyon was more primitive.[2]
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