Cladosictis

Cladosictis (meaning "branch weasel") is an extinct genus of South American metatherian from Patagonia, Argentina (Chichinales, Cerro Bandera, Sarmiento and Santa Cruz Formations) and Chile (Río Frias Formation).^[1]

Cladosictis Temporal range: Early-Mid Miocene (Colhuehuapian-Friasian) ~21.0–15.5 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
A lower jaw fragment of Cladosictis lustratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Sparassodonta
Family:	†Hathliacynidae
Genus:	†Cladosictis Ameghino 1887
Species
C. centralis Ameghino 1902 C. defossa (Ameghino 1887) C. patagonica Ameghino 1887
Synonyms
Agustylus Ameghino 1887 Anatherium Ameghino 1887 Hathliacynus Ameghino 1887 Ictioborus Ameghino 1891

Description

Life restoration of C. patagonica

Cladosictis was a fox-like creature that was around 80 centimetres (2.6 ft) long. Cladosictis probably hunted for eggs and small animals in the low undergrowth, using its low posture for cover. With sharp canines and slicing carnassials, Cladosictis's teeth were similar to those of carnivorans, although the groups were unrelated.^[2]