Sipalocyon

Sipalocyon
Temporal range:
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Sparassodonta
Family: Hathliacynidae
Genus: Sipalocyon
Ameghino, 1887
Type species
Sipalocyon gracilis
Ameghino, 1887
Other species
  • Sipalocyon externus Ameghino, 1902
  • Sipalocyon obusta Ameghino, 1891

Sipalocyon is an extinct genus of hathliacynid sparassodont that lived in South America during the Miocene epoch.[1]

Palaeobiology

The postcranial anatomy of Sipalocyon gracilis, particularly its pseudo-opposable pollex that gave it manipulative ability, suggests it was a scansorial animal.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Sipalocyon". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  2. ^ Argot, Christine (January 2003). "Postcranial functional adaptations in the South American Miocene borhyaenoids (Mammalia, Metatheria): Cladosictis, Pseudonotictis and Sipalocyon". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 27 (4): 303–356. doi:10.1080/03115510308619110. ISSN 0311-5518. Retrieved 3 May 2026 – via ResearchGate.