Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Harpagolestes

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Kingdom
  
Infraclass
  
Eutheria

Family
  
Rank
  
Genus

Class
  
Superorder
  
Laurasiatheria

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Mesonychid

Harpagolestes prehistoricfaunacomimagecachedataHarpagolest

Similar
  
Mesonychid, Mongolestes, Mesonychidae, Mongolonyx, Pachyaena

Harpagolestes (hooked thief) is an extinct genus of hyena like, bear sized mesonychid mesonychian that lived in middle and eastern Asia during the middle to late Eocene.

Fossil specimens have been recovered in Mongolia, China, and at least one species in Korea and possibly North America. Harpagolestes exhibits strong, curved canine teeth, a deep lower jaw, massive skull, and heavy wear on the molars. This along with stout limb bones suggest that Harpagolestes was a scavenger and did not pursue its prey. The wear on the molars suggests it regularly cracked bones.

References

Harpagolestes Wikipedia