Leptocyon

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Leptocyon was the oldest known canine, living in North America from about 34 to 10 million years ago (the Oligocene to the Miocene). They were small, weighing around 2 kilograms, and looked fox-like with a long, narrow jaw and delicate teeth.

The genus includes about 11 species, such as L. delicatus (the smallest canid ever found), L. gregorii, L. vafer, and L. vulpinus. Leptocyon appeared in North America at roughly the same time as the Borophaginae, another early canid group. The two groups share features, indicating they are closely related, but Borophaginae had skulls and teeth built for a powerful killing bite, while Leptocyon was adapted for snatching small, fast prey.

Around 9 million years ago, one Leptocyon lineage began to look like a modern fox. These animals were small, fox-like with long jaws and delicate teeth, and they were probably omnivorous, eating small animals and fruit. Their diet remained relatively unchanged throughout the Miocene.