Amphicyonidae

Amphicyonidae is an extinct family of carnivorous mammals known as bear dogs. These animals lived during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs, roughly 33.9 to 5.3 million years ago. Amphicyonids were widespread, with fossils found in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. They represent a diverse group, with species ranging in size from that of a badger to a large bear.

The morphology of amphicyonids suggests a diet of meat, though some may have been omnivorous. Their teeth were adapted for both tearing flesh and crushing bone. Their limbs were robust, indicating they were likely capable of running and potentially ambushing prey. The exact evolutionary relationships of amphicyonids are still debated, but they are generally considered to be part of the Carnivora order, though their placement within the order is uncertain, with some studies suggesting a relationship with canids and others with ursids, or a separate lineage altogether. The family went extinct by the end of the Miocene, possibly due to competition with other carnivores or changes in their environment and prey availability.