| Metahyaena Temporal range:Late Miocene (Vallesian) | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Hyaenidae |
| Genus: | †Metahyaena Viranta & Werdelin, 2003 |
| Type species | |
| †Metahyaena confector Viranta & Werdelin, 2003 | |
Metahyaena is anextinctgenus ofhyaenids that lived inTurkey during theLate Miocene. The type and only knownspecies,M. confector, was discovered in theSinap Formation.[1][2]Metahyaena shows some primitivedurophagous adaptations. The premolars ofMetahyaena are narrower than those of other durophagous hyaenids such asBelbus beaumonti.[1]
Thespecific name ofM. confector (fromLatin:confector, 'maker' or 'destroyer') was chosen due to the significant number ofbites found onbones of other species in itstype locality.[1]
 | This article related to aprehistoriccarnivoran is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |