3" Rare, Fossil Canid (Hesperocyon) Upper Skull - Wyoming

Rare, Fossil Canid (Hesperocyon) Upper Skull - Wyoming #269890

This is 3" long, partial upper skull of the canid Hesperocyon that was collected from the Oligocene-aged Brule Formation in the White River Badlands of South Dakota. Six of the teeth are still present, none of which are composite. Natural rock has been left within the underside of the skull for stability purposes.

Hesperocyon is an extinct genus of the family Canidae. The name Hesperocyon means "Dog from the West" and they resembled modern day foxes. They were small and agile, much like a domestic cat, and lived only in North America. Their bodies were long and flexible, and they had a tail, 42 teeth, inner ears that were enclosed in bone instead of cartilage, and relatively short legs with five toes. Fossil records suggest that Hesperocyon was one of the earliest members of the canid family to appear.