Percrocutidae
Encyclopedia
The Percrocutidae form an extinct family of hyena
-like feliform carnivore
s endemic to Asia
, Africa
, and Southern Europe
from the Miocene
through Pliocene
living 20—2.59 Ma existing for approximately .
The first percrocutids are known from the middle Miocene
of Europe and western Asia and belonged to the genus Percrocuta
. Percrocuta already had large premolar
s, 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
.
The list follows McKenna and Bells Classification of Mammals for prehistoric genera (1997).Malcolm C. McKenna, Susan K. Bell: Classification of Mammals: Above the Species Level in Columbia University Press, New York 1997, 631 Seiten, ISBN 0-231-11013-8 In contrast to McKenna and Bell's classification they are not included as a subfamily into the Hyaenidae but as a separate family Percrocutidae.
Hyena
Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family Hyaenidae of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora , and one of the smallest in the mammalia...
-like feliform carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
s endemic to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and Southern Europe
Southern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
from the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
through Pliocene
Pliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
living 20—2.59 Ma existing for approximately .
The first percrocutids are known from the middle Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
of Europe and western Asia and belonged to the genus Percrocuta
Percrocuta
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 , Percrocuta was much bigger than its modern relatives, but smaller than a female lion. Like the Spotted Hyena, Percrocuta had a robust...
. Percrocuta already had large premolar
Premolar
The premolar teeth or bicuspids are transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth. In humans, there are two premolars per quadrant, making eight premolars total in the mouth. They have at least two cusps. Premolars can be considered as a 'transitional tooth' during chewing, or...
s, but did not carry such a massive bite as the later form Dinocrocuta
Dinocrocuta
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. It's estimated to weight roughly 400 kg...
, 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
Stenoplesictis
Stenoplesictis is an extinct genus of carnivorous cat-like mammals belonging to the superfamily Aeluroidea, endemic to Europe from the Oligocene 33.9—28.4 Ma, existing for approximately ....
into the family Stenoplesictidae
Stenoplesictidae
Stenoplesictidae is a family of extinct civet-like animals, such as Stenoplesictis....
.
Genera of Percrocutids
- PercrocutaPercrocutaPercrocuta 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 , Percrocuta was much bigger than its modern relatives, but smaller than a female lion. Like the Spotted Hyena, Percrocuta had a robust...
(including Capsatherium; Middle Miocene to Late Pliocene of Africa, Middle to Late Miocene of Eurasia) - DinocrocutaDinocrocutaDinocrocuta 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. It's estimated to weight roughly 400 kg...
(Middle Miocene of Africa, Middle to Late Miocene of Asia)
The list follows McKenna and Bells Classification of Mammals for prehistoric genera (1997).Malcolm C. McKenna, Susan K. Bell: Classification of Mammals: Above the Species Level in Columbia University Press, New York 1997, 631 Seiten, ISBN 0-231-11013-8 In contrast to McKenna and Bell's classification they are not included as a subfamily into the Hyaenidae but as a separate family Percrocutidae.