Temnocyon fossil map
Where fossils of Temnocyon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 30 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 30 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 | 31.8–12.5 million years ago (Rupelian to Serravallian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Amphicyonidae |
| Named by | Cope 1878 |
| Fossil records | 28 occurrences at 13 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | John Day, Marsland, txn:41266, Sespe, Harrison, Valentine |
About Temnocyon
Temnocyon is an extinct genus of amphicyonids endemic to North America. It lived from the Oligocene to Early Miocene approximately 30.8—20.4 mya, existing for about 11 million years.
The first fossils are recorded in North America at Logan Butte in the John Day beds of Oregon, in the Sharps Formation of the Wounded Knee area, South Dakota, and in the Gering Formation at Wildcat Ridge, Nebraska. These early temnocyonines attained the size of coyotes or small wolves (15–30 kg) and are identified by a uniquely specialized dentition. The last documented occurrences of temnocyonines are found in sediments in northwest Nebraska and southeastern Wyoming.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Temnocyon (revision 1258139755), 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: Q7698158.
