Hemicyoninae is an extinct subfamily of Ursidae, often called dog bears (literally "half dog" (Greek: ἡμικυων )). They were bear-like carnivorans living in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia during the Oligocene through Miocene epochs 33.9–5.3 Ma, existing for approximately. They are sometimes classified as a separate family.

Systematics

The hemicyonines consists of three tribes: the Cephalogalini, Phoberocyonini, and Hemicyonini. In the past the hemicyonines were evaluated into family level (Hemicyonidae). However the vast majority of papers and researchers that cover the evolution of bears often classified them as an extinct subfamily of ursids or stem-bears. The genus Agriotherium was once classified as a hemicyonine but recent work has shown the genus is a crown-ursid.