Oligocene White River fossil Dog skull Hesperocyon gregarius Wyoming

Description

A fossil dog skull,
Hesperocyon gregarius
, from the Oligocene White River deposits of Converse County, Wyoming.  The specimen consists of a slightly disarticulated upper palate and is 1 and ½ inches long, it contains 12 excellent teeth.  The cranium was not preserved.  It is suspected that this specimen was either the victim of predation or fell apart before preservation.  The specimen has been consolidated with glue and has no restoration.  It is presented on the matrix it was discovered in which measures approximately 3” by 3”.
The dog family has an excellent fossil record, and many lineages can be traced so that one can “see” one form change into another.
Canids are another major family in the modern world that first evolved in North America.
Hesperocyon
is the oldest known canid, and its evolution can be traced to a specific miacid
(Miacis
) from the late Eocene.
The raccoon‑sized
Hesperocyon
underwent a radiation during White River time, producing forms that filled the basic dog niches (fox, coyote, wolf, and hyena).
Hesperocyonines were not very good runners compared to modern dogs and probably retained tree climbing abilities.
Hesperocyon
was the most common dog genus at this time and has been found preserved in dens.
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