Cynodesmus [SEP] parent taxon
Osbornodon", "Otarocyon", "Paracynarctus", "Paratomarctus", and "Phlaocyon" (Wang, 1994; Wang et al., 1999). Of these, only "Osbornodon" belongs in the same subfamily as "Cynodesmus", Hesperocyoninae. The remaining genera are placed in the subfamilies Borophaginae and Caninae.
With unrelated species removed, "Cynodesmus" is currently restricted to the type species and the closely related "C. martini" (Wang, 1994).
Studies using the old conception of
Cynodesmus
Cynodesmus is an extinct genus of omnivorous canine which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 33.3—-26.3 Ma and existed for approximately .
"Cynodesmus" was one of the first canids to truly look dog-like. At around in length, it was about the same size as a modern coyote, but had a shorter skull, heavier tail, and longer rump. The shape of its limbs suggests that "Cynodesmus" was not a very good runner compared to most other canids; it probably attacked prey from an