Hyaenodontidae

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Hyaenodontidae

Hyeanodon gigas

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Creodonta
Family:	Hyaenodontidae

Genera

Boualitomus
Hyaenodon
Laekitherium
Metapterodon
Triacodon
Parvagula

Hyaenodontidae is a family of the extinct order Creodonta, which contains 6 genera.

ORDER CREODONTA creodonts
- Suborder Preptotheria
  - Family Hyaenodontidae
    - Genus Boualitomus
    - Genus Hyaenodon
    - Genus Laekitherium
    - Genus Metapterodon
    - Genus Triacodon
    - Genus Parvagula

Hyaenodontids were top mammalian predators that arose during the late Paleocene and persisted well into the Oligocene. They were considerably more widespread and successful than the related oxyaenids. (Lambert, 163) Characterized by long skulls, slender jaws, slim bodies, and a tendency to walk on their toes rather than flat-footed (plantigrade), they ranged in size from 30 to 140 cm. (Lambert, 163) Fossil evidence of their skulls shows that they had a particularly acute sense of smell, while their teeth were adapted for shearing, rather than crushing. (Lambert, 163)

Because of their size range, it is probable that different species hunted in different ways. Smaller ones would hunt in packs during the night, and bigger, fiercer ones would hunt alone during the daylight, using their sheer size and their mighty jaws as their principal weapon. The carnassials in a hyaenodontid are the second upper and third lower molars.

Like some modern animals, hyaenodontids probably used to grind their teeth as a means of display. Fossils of this family of mammals have been found in North America as well as in Mongolia.