From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Megistotherium was a very large creodont that lived in the Miocene Epoch some 24 million years ago. Along with the mesonychid Andrewsarchus mongoliensis, it is arguably the largest terrestrial predatory mammal known. It certainly is the largest predatory land mammal known that lived in Africa. The animal was at least larger than a bison, possibly being over 14-18 feet long and weighing at least 1500 kg, with some individuals larger. Its skull measured over a metre in length. Megistotherium fossils have been discovered from Libya and Egypt. Mastodon bones have been found with its fossils, so Megistotherium may have hunted young mastodons for food, but not adults. Megistotherium may have been an active predator or a scavenger.
