Guangxicyon

Gwan-zi-sy-on.
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Cassidy Wood

Paleoentomologist

Cassidy Wood uncovers the tiny yet significant world of prehistoric insects. Her research on amber-preserved specimens has revealed intricate details about ancient ecosystems.

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Name

Guangxicyon ‭(‬Guangxi dog‭)‬.

Phonetic

Gwan-zi-sy-on.

Named By

R.‭ ‬Zhai,‭ ‬R.‭ ‬L.‭ ‬Ciochon,‭ ‬Y.‭ ‬Tong,‭ ‬D.‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Savage,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Morlo,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Holroyd‭ & ‬G.‭ ‬F.‭ ‬Gunnell‭ ‬-‭ ‬2003.‭

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Carnivora,‭ ‬Caniformia,‭ ‬Amphicyonidae,‭ ‬Amphicyoninae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

G.‭ ‬sinoamericanus‭

Size

Details unavailable.

Known locations

China,‭ ‬Guangxi Province,‭ ‬Bose Basin‭ ‬-‭ ‬Nadu Formation.

Time Period

Priabonian of the Eocene.

Fossil representation

Partial remains of a single individual.

In Depth

       Hailing from southern China,‭ ‬Guangxicyon is noted for having a short face,‭ ‬something which may have been an adaptation for focusing the force of the jaw closing muscles for an increased bite force.‭ ‬This may have been enough to allow Guangxicyon enough bite force to crunch through bones.‭ ‬Other short faced bear dogs include Brachycyon and Haplocyon.

Further Reading

Further reading- An aberrant amphicyonid mammal from the latest Eocene of the Bose Basin, Guangxi, China. – Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 48(2):293-300. – R. Zhai, R. L. Ciochon, Y. Tong, D. E. Savage, M. Morlo, P. A. Holroyd & G. F. Gunnell – 2003.

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