Tephrocyon fossil map
Where fossils of Tephrocyon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 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 15 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 | 18.5–12.5 million years ago (Burdigalian to Serravallian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Canidae |
| Named by | Merriam 1906 |
| Fossil records | 16 occurrences at 6 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Mascall, Butte Creek, Volcanic Sandstone, Valentine |
About Tephrocyon
Tephrocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. They lived during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene 16.3—13.6 million years ago, existing for roughly 2.7 million years.
It is a rarely found genus, with fossil deposits only occurring in western Nebraska, Wyoming, eastern Oregon, New Mexico, and north Florida. It was an intermediate-sized canid, and more predatory than earlier borophagines.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Tephrocyon (revision 1258223091), 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: Q7701327.
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