Hyainailourinae ("hyena-like cats") is a paraphyletic subfamily of hyaenodonts from extinct paraphyletic family Hyainailouridae. They arose during the Middle Eocene in Asia, and persisted well into the Late Miocene. Fossils of this group have been found in Africa, Eurasia, and North America.
General characteristics Hyainailourins are characterized by long skulls, slender jaws, slim bodies, and a plantigrade stance. They generally ranged in size from 30 to 140 cm at the shoulder. While some measured as much as 1.4 m high at the shoulder with head-body length up to 3.2 m and weighed up to 500 kg, most were in the 5–15 kg range, equivalent to a mid-sized dog. The anatomy of their skulls show that they had a particularly acute sense of smell, while their teeth were adapted for shearing, rather than crushing.
Classification and phylogeny Taxonomy Subfamily: †Hyainailourinae (paraphyletic subfamily) Genus: †Ekweeconfractus †Ekweeconfractus amorui Genus: †Leakitherium †Leakitherium hiwegi Genus: †Megistotherium †Megistotherium osteothlastes Genus: †Mlanyama †Mlanyama sugu Genus: †Pakakali †Pakakali rukwaensis Genus: †Simbakubwa †Simbakubwa kutokaafrika Genus: †Thereutherium †Thereutherium thylacodes (unranked): †Akhnatenavus clade Genus: †Akhnatenavus †Akhnatenavus leptognathus †Akhnatenavus nefertiticyon Genus: †Hemipsalodon †Hemipsalodon grandis †Hemipsalodon viejaensis Genus: †Ischnognathus †Ischnognathus savagei (unranked): †Maocyon/Orienspterodon clade Genus: †Maocyon †Maocyon peregrinus Genus: †Orienspterodon †Orienspterodon dahkoensis †Orienspterodon mianchiensis Tribe: †Hyainailourini ( Polyphyletic tribe) Genus: †Bastetodon †Bastetodon syrtos Genus: †Exiguodon †Exiguodon pilgrimi Genus: †Falcatodon †Falcatodon schlosseri Genus: †Hyainailouros (Paraphyletic genus) †Hyainailouros bugtiensis †Hyainailouros napakensis †Hyainailouros sulzeri Genus: †Isohyaenodon (polyphyletic genus) †Isohyaenodon andrewsi †Isohyaenodon zadoki Genus: †Parapterodon †Parapterodon lostangensis Genus: †Sectisodon †Sectisodon markgrafi †Sectisodon occultus Genus: †Sekhmetops †Sekhmetops africanus †Sekhmetops phiomensis Genus: †Sivapterodon †Sivapterodon lahirii (unranked): †Pterodon clade Genus: †Kerberos †Kerberos langebadreae Genus: †Pterodon †Pterodon dasyuroides Incertae sedis: †"Pterodon" sp. [DPC 5036] Tribe: †Metapterodontini Genus: †Metapterodon †Metapterodon anari †Metapterodon brachycephalus †Metapterodon kaiseri †Metapterodon stromeri Tribe: †Paroxyaenini Genus: †Paroxyaena †Paroxyaena galliae †Paroxyaena pavlovi Incertae sedis: †"Pterodon" sp. [BC 15'08] †Hyainailourinae sp. [GSN AD 100'96] †Hyainailourinae sp. [UON 84-359] †Hyainailourinae sp. A [DPC 6555] †Hyainailourinae sp. C [DPC 9243 & DPC 10315] †Hyainailourinae sp. D [DPC 6545]
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