Harpagolestes

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

Jaw

Harpagolestes
Temporal range: Middle Eocene–Late Eocene
Skull of H. immanis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Mesonychia
Family:
Mesonychidae
Genus:
Harpagolestes
Species
  • H. immanis
  • H. koreanicus
  • H. orientalis
  • H. uintensis
  • H. macrocephalus
  • H. brevipes
  • H. leotensis

Fossil specimens have been recovered in the United States, Canada, Mongolia, China, and at least one species in Korea. 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.


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