Percrocutidae
| Percrocutidae | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Dinocrocuta gigantea | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Fossil
|
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Percrocutidae Werdelin & Solounias, 1991 |
| Genera | |
The Percrocutidae form 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.[1]
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.[2] 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.
[edit] Genera of Percrocutids
- Percrocuta (including Capsatherium; Middle Miocene to Late Pliocene of Africa, Middle to Late Miocene of Eurasia)
- Dinocrocuta (Middle Miocene of Africa, Middle to Late Miocene of Asia)
The list follows McKenna and Bells Classification of Mammals for prehistoric genera (1997).[3] In contrast to McKenna and Bell's classification they are not included as a subfamily into the Hyaenidae but as a separate family Percrocutidae.
[edit] References
- ^ Paleobiology Database: Percrocutidae basic info.
- ^ Alan Turner & Mauricio Antón: Evolving Eden. An Illustrated Guide to the Evolution of the African Large-Mammal Fauna. Columbia University Press, New York, 2004. ISBN 0-231-11944-5
- ^ 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
- Jordi Agustí: Mammoths, Sabertooths and Hominids 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe, Columbia University Press, 2002. ISBN 2001042251
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