Theriodictis

Theriodictis is an extinct genus of canid endemic to South America during the Middle Pleistocene, and possibly the south-eastern United States.^[1]: 88

Theriodictis Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene—Late Pleistocene
Fossil skull in the Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Subfamily:	Caninae
Tribe:	Canini
Genus:	†Theriodictis Mercerat, 1891[1]
Type species
†T. platensis[1]
Species
†T. floridanus[1] †T. tarijensis[1]

Taxonomy and evolution

Life reconstruction

The type specimen T. platensis^[1] is a sister taxon to Canis gezi.^[2] One taxonomic authority proposes that the species T. tarijensis falls under the genus Protocyon.^[3] It was a large sized canid; body weight for adult specimens of Theriodictis platensis has been estimated at around 30 to 40 kg. The dental diagnostic trait is found in the hypocone of M1 which is reduced in comparison with that of other genera.^[4]

Fossil distribution

The fossil remains have been discovered in the Tarija Formation of Bolivia, the Chui Formation of southern Brazil, and the Yupoí Formation of northern Argentina.^[5][6] Possible remains, designated as T. floridanus, have been unearthed in Florida and date to the Irvingtonian stage of North America.^[1][7]

Prey

Prey is thought to have included ungulate camelids (e.g. guanaco), cervids (e.g. Epieurycerus and Antifer), equids (e.g. Equus and Hippidion), peccaries (e.g. Catagonus), giant rodents (e.g. Neochoerus), mesotherids (e.g. the burrowing Mesotherium), and giant cingulates (e.g. Eutatus, Propraopus and Pampatherium).^[8]