Borophagus orc
Introduction '''''Borophagus orc''''' is an extinct species of the genus ''Borophagus'' of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the 10.3 Mya to 4.9 Mya. ''Borophagus orc'' existed for approximately .
Overview ''Borophagus'', like other Borophaginae, are loosely known as "bone-crushing" or "hyena-like" dogs. Though not the most massive borophagine by size or weight, it had a more highly evolved capacity to crunch bone than earlier, larger genera such as ''Epicyon'', which seems to be an evolutionary trend of the group (Turner, 2004). During the Pliocene epoch, ''Borophagus'' began being displaced by ''Canis'' genera such as ''Canis edwardii'' and later by ''Canis dirus''. Early species of ''Borophagus'' were placed in the genus '''''Osteoborus''''' until recently, but the genera are now considered synonyms. ''Borophagus orc'' possibly led a hyena-like lifestyle scavenging carcasses of recently dead animals.
Taxonomy Typical features of this genus are a bulging forehead and powerful jaws; it was probably a scavenger. Its crushing premolar teeth and strong jaw muscles would have been used to crack open bone, much like the hyena of the Old World. The adult animal is estimated to have been about  in length, similar to a coyote, although it was much more powerfully built.
Recombination ''Borophagus orc'' was recombined by X. Wang in 1999.It was previously named ''Osteoborus orc.''
Fossil distribution Specimens have been found at only two sites: near Withlacoochee River, Florida and coastal North Carolina.
References
Notes * Alan Turner, "National Geographic:  Prehistoric Mammals" (Washington, D.C.:  Firecrest Books Ltd., 2004), pp. 112–114. * Xiaoming Wang, " The Origin and Evolution of the Dog Family" Accessed 1/30/06.
Further reading * Picture of an ''Osteoborus'' skull in a museum, from "World of the Wolf." (Accessed 6/19/06)*Russell Hunt,  "Ecological Polarities Of the North American Family Canidae: A New Approach to Understanding Forty Million Years of Canid Evolution" (Accessed 1/30/06). * Wang et al., "Phylogenetic Systematics of the Borophaginae (Carnivora:Canidae)." ''Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History'', No. 243, Nov. 17 1999. (PDF) (Accessed 4/11/06)