What is "archaeocyon"

Archaeocyon ("beginning dog") is a small extinct genus of the Borophaginae within the family Canidae ( terrestrial canine) which inhabited most of North America during the Whitneyan stage through Geringian stage of the Oligocene epoch 33.3—26.3 Ma Archaeocyon existed for approximately .

Species of Archaeocyon are among the earliest known borophagines, although a species of Otarocyon has a slightly earlier first appearance.