Hyaenodontidae

fossil mammal family

Also known as: hyaenodont

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June 29, 2026

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The Hyaenodontidae were a family of extinct carnivorous mammals that lived from the Eocene Epoch (about 42 million years ago) to the Oligocene Epoch (about 25 million years ago). These animals were part of the order Creodonta, which existed for over 50 million years.12

Hyaenodontids were diverse, with species ranging from small, fox-like creatures to larger, dog-like or wolf-like animals. A well-known genus within this family is Hyaenodon, which was a large predator with a long, narrow skull and large teeth. These mammals inhabited North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. They were efficient predators, with some species resembling the extinct thylacine (Tasmanian wolf) in body shape.21

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Creodonta
…distinguished: the Oxyaenidae and the Hyaenodontidae. The oxyaenids had relatively short faces and powerful limbs, perhaps resembling badgers, wolverines, and bears. They first appeared in the early Paleocene Epoch (about 65.5 million years ago) and became extinct at the end of the Eocene (about 33.9 million years ago). Oxyaenids lived…
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…distinguished: the Oxyaenidae and the Hyaenodontidae. The oxyaenids had relatively short faces and powerful limbs, perhaps resembling badgers, wolverines, and bears. They first appeared in the early Paleocene Epoch (about 65.5 million years ago) and became extinct at the end of the Eocene (about 33.9 million years ago). Oxyaenids lived…
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