SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OP MINES 



83 



Figure 27 — Skeleton of the 

 Matthew, 1901. 



Oligocene dog, Cynodictis gregarius. 



FELIDAE 



The cat family is well represented in fossil form in the 

 White River region, although neither the species nor the 

 individuals were so numerous as were the Canidae. Two 

 genera are of particular prominence, namely, Hoplophoneus 

 and Dinictis. These are early forms of what are commonly 

 known as saber-tooth cats or tigers ( Machaerodonts ) , a 

 name given them by reason of two great sword or saber-like 

 canine teeth of the upper jaw. They were not so large as 

 certain later forms of this great group, nevertheless they 

 were vicious creatures and Hoplophoneus, the larger of the 



Figure 28 — Skull of the Saber-tooth tiger, Dinictis squalidens. 

 Matthew, 1905. 



