Percrocutidae | |
---|---|
Restoration of Dinocrocuta gigantea | |
Estimated Population | 0 |
Scientific Classification | |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Mammalia |
Order | Carnivora |
Family | †Percrocutidae |
Conservation Status | |
Extinct |
The Percrocutidae is an extinct family of hyena-like feliform carnivores endemic to Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe from the Miocene through Pliocene living 20—2.59 Ma existing for approximately 17.41 million years.
The first percrocutids are known from the middle Miocene of Europe and western Asia and belonged to the genus Percrocuta. Percrocuta already had large premolars, but did not carry such a massive bite as the later form Dinocrocuta, from the later Miocene. Originally, these carnivores were placed with the hyenas in the family Hyaenidae. Today, most scientists consider Percrocutidae to be a distinct family—although sometimes it is placed with carnivoran genera, such as Stenoplesictis, into the family Stenoplesictidae.
Genera Percrocuta and Dinocrocuta[]
Percrocuta is an extinct genus of hyena-like feliform carnivores. It lived in Europe, Asia, and Africa, during the Miocene epoch. With a maximum length of 1.50 m (5 ft), Percrocuta was much bigger than its modern relatives, but smaller than a female lion. Like the Spotted Hyena, Percrocuta had a robust skull and powerful jaws. Similar to modern hyenids, its hind legs were shorter than the front legs, resulting in a characteristic sloping back.
Dinocrocuta is an extinct genus of hyena-like feliform carnivores. It lived in Asia, and Africa, during the Miocene epoch. It had very strong jaws that were able to crush bones. Its estimated weight was roughly 400 kg.
Genera[]
Genus Percrocuta Percrocuta giganteus Percrocuta miocenica Percrocuta abessalomi Percrocuta hebeiensis Genus Dinocrocuta Dinocrocuta gigantea Dinocrocuta macrodonta