Otarocyon

{{Short description|Extinct genus of carnivores}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Oligocene}}

| image = Otarocyon cooki.jpeg

| image_caption = Skull of Otarocyon cooki

| taxon = Otarocyon

| authority = Wang, Tedford, & Taylor, 1999

| type_species = †Cynodesmus cooki

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision =

• †O. cooki
• †O. macdonaldi

| range_map = Otarocyon range.png

| range_map_caption = Range of Otarocyon based on fossil distribution

}}

Otarocyon ("large eared dog") is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae subfamily of canids native to North America. It lived during the Oligocene epoch, about 33.3—20.6 Ma (million years ago).[https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=41227 PaleoBiology Database: Otarocyon Taxonomy, Species] Fossils have been found only in Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

Otarocyon was a small borophagine characterized by a short, broad skull, a specialized middle ear, simple, tall premolar teeth, and molars that are incipiently adapted to a hypocarnivorous diet. Despite its Oligocene age, the skull of Otarocyon shows several striking similarities to the living fennec fox, particularly in the structure of its middle ear. The similarities are probably convergent, but they suggest that Otarocyon may have been similar in its appearance and habits.[http://www.nhm.org/expeditions/rrc/wang/documents/Wangetal1999borophaginemonographpart1.pdf Phylogenetic systematics of the Borophaginae (Carnivora, Canidae)]