Bear dog fossil skeleton

Family: Amphicyonidae Genus: Daphoenodon/Borocyon
Indeterminate Species
Early Miocene, Early Hemingfordian, Dixie County, Florida

A bone-crushing predator, this creature is theorized to have been an extinct relative of both bears and dogs, hence its popular name, bear dog. Closely related to true dogs and less related to bears, bear dogs are classified under the extinct family Amphicyonidae - large land carnivores which inhabited North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Miocene. Bear dogs weighed 150 kilograms on average. Sharing the heavy-bodied features of bears as well as the longer legs and snout features of dogs, they resembled a giant dog with a flexible cat-like body. Evidence of muscular forelimbs and a strong neck suggest that this carnivore engaged in ambush-style predatory action; it would have been adept at stabilizing its victim before inflicting a deadly killing bite. The present specimen has been expertly prepared and mounted and exhibits outstanding bone quality and color.

 Length 87in