An extinct genus of small dog-like carnivorous mammals from the Eocene epoch, representing early relatives of modern dogs and bears.
From Greek 'kyon' (dog) plus 'dictis' (of a wild animal or dog), literally meaning 'dog-like.' Paleontologists named this fossil genus in the 19th century.
Cynodictis lived 50 million years ago and was small—only 2 feet long—but it was a fierce hunter and one of your dog's incredibly distant cousins from deep time!
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