Description

Cynodictis lacustris

Late Eocene

Phosphorites de Quercy

Near Cahors, Les Rozieres France.

Complete 1000mm amphicyonid skeleton.

Carnivora.

Cynodictis is a genus of carnivorous mammal considered one of the oldest amphicyonids (Family Amphicyonidae).  It is known only from the Late Eocene of Europe and was about the size of a fox.

Amphicyonids are commonly called “bear-dogs,” representing an extinct family of dog-like carnivorans though some later forms (Amphicyon) were larger and bear-like.  They were dominant carnivores in the Early Miocene spreading from North America and Europe to Asia and Africa but died out worldwide by the end of the Miocene.