From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Percrocutidae form an extinct family of 'cat-like' carnivores (Feliformia). They developed features similar to hyenas and probably used the equivalent ecological niche. 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 massive bit as the later form Dinocrocuta from the later Miocene.
Originally they were placed with the hyenas in the family Hyaenidae. Today, most scientists consider Procrutidae to be a distinct family although sometimes it is placed with some other carnivoran genera like Stenoplesictis, into the family Stenoplesictidae.
[edit] References
- 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
- Jordi Agustí: Mammoths, Sabertooths and Hominids 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe, Columbia University Press, 2002. ISBN 2001042251
