Brule Formation Carnivorous Mammal Tooth

[Othniel C. Marsh]

I recently saw this carnivorous mammal tooth from the Brule Formation for sale. It is labelled as being that of a Hesperocyon gregarius, but what little I know of carnivorous mammal dentition leads me to believe that the tooth could in fact come from a Hyaenodon. As always, I've decided I'm going to play it safe and ask someone of greater expertise to verify this. It is my understanding that @jpc, @Randyw and @ParkerPaleo are all Brule Formation specialists, so I will take the liberty of "@ing" you all in.

 

 

Thanks in advance for any guidance
Othniel

[Mahnmut]

Hi Othniel,

consider size. Hesperocyon was about the size of a racoon, while the different species of hyaenodon where estimated at 30 to 150 kg according to wikipedia, with disproportionally big heads and teeth. I do not know how big the tooth in question is, but the answer to that question may help with the ID.

Best regards, J

[Othniel C. Marsh]

Unfortunately no proportions have been given for the specimen. If with measurements an ID could be given, I may well purchase the specimen, and provide the measurements after.

Edited April 21 by Othniel C. Marsh

[Danielb]

Hesperocyon seems like it matches to me.
 

Maybe @MarcoSr can help.

[MarcoSr]

33 minutes ago, Danielb said:

Hesperocyon seems like it matches to me.
 

Maybe @MarcoSr can help.

 

Nice tooth.  It is canid.  Need size and top-down view to say for sure, but looks Hesperocyon to me.

 

Marco Sr.

[Randyw]

I agree with marcoSr.... We need size and top view

Edited April 21 by Randyw
Clarification

[jpc]

a length measurement would be very helpful.  

[Othniel C. Marsh]

I've decided I'll purchase the tooth, so I'll be back to you with the measurements in a few weeks. Thankyou for the guidance.

[ParkerPaleo]

Certainly canid.  Looks like a Hesperocyon m1 to me but without a scale I can't be certain, same as others have stated.  Couple of photos of a specimen I had handy for you to compare with once you have it in your hands.  Scale is centimeter.  Similar photos of Hesperocyon jaws are available on the internet but they were linked to sellers and I wasn't sure if I should share those links.

 

  

 

[Othniel C. Marsh]

Unfortunately, it would appear that the shop from which I intended to purchase the Hesperocyon tooth from has closed, or at the very least the website is no longer working. As such, I will be unable to obtain this specimen and therefore will be unable to provide the measurements needed for a positive ID. I give my sincerest apologies on this front, but also my thanks for imparting the knowledge you have done on carnivoran teeth. No doubt it will be of use in the future.