The ‘bone crushing dogs’ were a subfamily of canids, related to modern canines such as jackals and wolves. They thrived in North America during the Oligocene and Pliocene. They are believed to have been ambush predators who used a stalk-pounce-dash strategy similar to big cats. When cats crossed from Asia to the Americas, it seems that the borophaginae struggled to compete in the same ecological niche.
They looked somewhat like wild dogs or wolves, but with heavy builds and short jaws. Their teeth were hyena-like, well suited to (as their name suggests) crushing bones.
Borophagus, by Charles R. Knight (1902)
Borophagus
Although small compared to some of its relatives, the ‘gluttonous eater’ was an extremely successful genus. They seem to have been pack hunters.
Borophagus
ST 7; DX 10; IQ 4; HT 11.
HP 7; Will 12; Per 11; FP 11; Speed 5.00; Dodge 9; Move 6.
SM −1, 50 lbs.
Bite (12): 1d−2 cutting.
Traits: Born Biter 2; Chummy; Combat Reflexes; Discriminatory Smell; Enhanced Move 2 (Ground Speed 24; Costs Fatigue, 1 FP/second); Limited Camouflage; Night Vision 1; Parabolic Hearing 2; Quadruped; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Striking ST 2 (Bite Only); Temperature Tolerance 3 (Cold); Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-12; Intimidation-12; Running-12; Stealth-12; Survival (Plains)-12; Tracking-15.
Epicyon
Epicyon lived up to its name (meaning ‘more than a dog’), being the largest of its subfamily and much bigger than any canine. They are believed to have been opportunistic predators and scavengers.
Epicyon haydeni
ST 13; DX 10; IQ 4; HT 11.
HP 13; Will 12; Per 11; FP 11; Speed 5.00; Dodge 9; Move 6.
SM +1 (2 hexes), 250 lbs.
Bite (12): 1d+2 cutting.
Traits: Acute Smell 1; Born Biter 1; Combat Reflexes; Discriminatory Smell; DR 1; Enhanced Move 1.5 (Ground Speed 18; Costs Fatigue, 1 FP/second); Night Vision 1; Parabolic Hearing 2; Quadruped; Reduced Consumption 1 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Striking ST 4 (Bite Only); Temperature Tolerance 4 (Cold); Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-12; Intimidation-14; Running-12; Stealth-12; Survival (Woodland)-12; Tracking-16.
Larger specimens (up to 380 lbs.) would have ST and HP 14. Smaller species such as E. saevus (110-130 lbs.) would have ST and HP 10, SM 0, Striking ST 3 and do 1d damage with their bite.