Bear-dogs
Powerful carnivores that are neither bears nor dogs become dominant predators across three continents.
- When
- —
- Duration
- 11 million years
- Known to
- ± 1 million years
- Era
- Oligocene, Cenozoic
Amphicyonids combine a dog-like head with a heavy, bear-like body and plantigrade feet, and they range from fox-sized to over half a tonne. They are a distinct carnivoran family, close to the base of the dog-bear branch rather than belonging to either. Through the Oligocene and Miocene they hold apex predator roles across North America, Eurasia and Africa. Their extinction is generally attributed to competition as true bears, big cats and hyaenids diversified into the same roles.