Aenocyon fossil map
Where fossils of Aenocyon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 2.58–0.0117 million years ago (Gelasian to Late Pleistocene) |
| Periods | Quaternary |
| Family | Canidae |
| Named by | (Merriam 1918) |
| Fossil records | 180 occurrences at 85 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, China, France, Argentina, Canada |
| Rock formations | txn:41189, Palos Verdes Sand, Kingsdown, Wando, Manix, Tacubaya |
About Aenocyon
Aenocyon (lit. 'dire dog') is an extinct genus of canines that lived between the Pleistocene and early Holocene epochs. The type species is the dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus). The other species, A. armbrusteri was originally classified as species of Canis genus, but more recent studies suggest that belongs to genus Aenocyon.
In 2021, Perri and colleagues suggested that Canis edwardii might belong to the same genus Aenocyon. However, this has not been widely accepted, with a 2024 study suggesting that C. edwardii would be a closer relative of the coyote as traditionally interpreted. C. nehringi is considered a likely member of the A. dirus lineage or its junior synonym.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Aenocyon (revision 1358413161), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q111519517.
