Protocyon

• South America ( Peru, Brazil, Argentina)

Protocyon is a medium-sized extinct genus of the dogs ( Canidae ), who lived in the Pleistocene of South America and became extinct about 10,000 years ago.

Protocyon inhabited the grasslands of South America to the end of the Pleistocene, and was a highly specialized carnivores. He should have fed mainly by the numerous deer, camel and Pekariarten, as well as wild horses that roamed the grasslands of South America during the Pleistocene. Maybe he captured the young animals of even larger species.

The genus is known in three fossil species, each represented geographically.

• Protocyon troglodytes, Brazil
• Protocyon orcesi, Ecuador
• Protocyon scagliarum, Argentina

A similar form also represents the extinct genus Theriodictis

Swell

• Canine
• Extinct predator
• Canidae