Harpagolestes

Harpagolestes; Temporal range: Middle Eocene–Late Eocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Skull of H. immanis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Eutheria
Superorder:	Laurasiatheria
Order:	Mesonychia
Family:	Mesonychidae
Genus:	Harpagolestes
Species
	H. immanis; H. koreanicus; H. orientalis;

Harpagolestes (hooked thief) is an extinct genus of hyena like, bear sized mesonychid mesonychian that lived in middle and eastern Asia during the middle to late Eocene.

Fossil specimens have been recovered in Mongolia, China, and at least one species in Korea and possibly North America. Harpagolestes exhibits strong, curved canine teeth, a deep lower jaw, massive skull, and heavy wear on the molars. This along with stout limb bones suggest that Harpagolestes was a scavenger and did not pursue its prey. The wear on the molars suggests it regularly cracked bones.

External links

This prehistoric mammal-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.