Mammalia - Carnivora - Canidae

Alternative combinations: Hypotemnodon josephi, Mesocyon josephi, Parenhydrocyon josephi, Temnocyon josephi

Synonym: Mesocyon hortulirosae Schlaikjer 1935

Belongs to Paraenhydrocyon according to X. Wang 1994

Sister taxa: Paraenhydrocyon robustus, Paraenhydrocyon wallovianus

Type specimens:

• Paraenhydrocyon josephi: AMNH 6878, a partial skull (anterior half of skull)
• Mesocyon hortulirosae: MCZ 2102, a skull (almost complete skull and mandible). Its type locality is Bear Creek Mountain (East), which is in an Arikareean terrestrial horizon in the "Lower Harrison" Formation of Wyoming.

Average measurements (in mm): P4 13.2 x 8.0, M1 9.65 x 11.51, M2 5.25 x 7.50, p4 9.85 x 4.49, m1 14.6 x 6.2, m2 7.26 x 4.75