Amphiodon

Amphiodon is an extinct genus of bear that lived in North America during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs, roughly between 33 and 5.3 million years ago. It is classified within the Amphicyonidae family, sometimes referred to as "bear-dogs" or "dog-bears," which are an extinct group of large, carnivorous mammals exhibiting characteristics of both bears and dogs.

Amphiodon species were generally robust animals with powerful jaws and teeth, indicating a diet that likely included a combination of meat and bone. Their physical characteristics suggest they were likely opportunistic predators and scavengers.

Fossil evidence of Amphiodon has been found in various locations across North America, helping paleontologists to understand the evolutionary history and diversification of bear-dogs on the continent. The exact number of species within the genus remains a subject of ongoing research and debate, with classifications often revised based on new fossil discoveries and analyses.

The extinction of Amphiodon, along with other amphicyonids, is believed to be linked to environmental changes and competition with other carnivores, including true bears and canids, during the late Miocene.