Hyaenodon ("hyaena-toothed") is the type genus of Hyaenodontidae, a group of extinct carnivorous creodonts of the family Hyaenodontidae endemic to all continents except South America, Australia and Antarctica. They lived from 42-15.9 million years a go existing for approximately 26.1 million years.
Some species of this genus were among the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals of their time; others were only of the size of a marten. Hyaenodon is one of the longest lived genera of Hyaenodontidae, and is known from the Late Eocene to Early Miocene. Remains of many species are known from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Typical of early carnivorous mammals, individuals of Hyaenodon had a very massive skull but only a small brain. The skull is long with a narrow snout - much larger in relation to the length of the skull than in canine carnivores, for instance. The neck was shorter than the skull, while the body was long and robust and terminated in a long tail. Despite the name, these creatures are not related to hyenas.
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Some species of this genus were among the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals of their time; others were only of the size of a marten. Hyaenodon is one of the longest lived genera of Hyaenodontidae, and is known from the Late Eocene to Early Miocene. Remains of many species are known from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Typical of early carnivorous mammals, individuals of Hyaenodon had a very massive skull but only a small brain. The skull is long with a narrow snout - much larger in relation to the length of the skull than in canine carnivores, for instance. The neck was shorter than the skull, while the body was long and robust and terminated in a long tail. Despite the name, these creatures are not related to hyenas.
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