Pliocyon is a physically large member of the extinct family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Amphicyonidae of terrestrial

Terrestrial animal

Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...

 carnivore

Carnivore

A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...

s belonging to the suborder Caniformia

Caniformia

Caniformia, or Canoidea , is a suborder within the order Carnivora. They typically possess a long snout and non-retractile claws . The Pinnipedia evolved from caniform ancestors and are accordingly assigned to this group...

, and which inhabited North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 from the Early Miocene

Early Miocene

The Early Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages....

 subepoch to the Middle Miocene

Middle Miocene

The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene....

 subepoch 20.6—13.6 Ma, existing for approximately .

Pliocyon was named by Matthew in 1918. Its type is Pliocyon medius.

Morphology

A single specimen was measured by Legendre and Roth in 1988 with an estimated mass of 101.2 kg (223 lbs).

Sister genera

Amphicyon

Amphicyon

Amphicyon is an extinct genus of large carnivorous bone-crushing mammals, known as bear-dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae, subfamily Amphicyoninae, from the Aquitanian Epoch until the Tortonian...

, Cynelos

Cynelos

Cynelos is a large extinct genus of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family Amphicyonidae , and which inhabited North America, Europe Asia, and Africa from the Early Miocene subepoch to the Late Miocene subepoch 24.8—7.2 Mya, existing for approximately .Dentition of...

 (syn. Absonodaphoenus, Hecubides), Ischyrocyon

Ischyrocyon

Ischyrocyon is an extinct genus of large, mostly carnivorous mammals known as bear dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae, subfamily Amphicyoninae, which inhabited North America during the Miocene living from ~16.3—10.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Ischyrocyon was named by Matthew and...

 (syn. Hadrocyon), Pseudocyon

Pseudocyon

Pseudocyon, also known as Amphicyonopsis, is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia, family of Amphicyonidae and which inhabited Euroasia and North America from the Miocene epoch to the Late Miocene subepoch living 23.3—7.2 Mya...

 (syn. Amphicyonopsis), Ysengrinia

Ysengrinia

Ysengrinia is an extinct genus of large, mostly carnivorous bone-crushing mammals known as bear dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae endemic to Europe, Africa, and North America during the Miocene living from 22.4—20 Ma and existed for approximately ....

Fossil distribution

Pliocyon has been uncovered in South Florida, Skull Spring, Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

, and western Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

.