Protictitherium

Protictitherium is an extinct genus of basal, civet-like hyena. The genus includes the earliest species of hyena known, P. gaillardi. The various species were small animals with retractable claws, who probably spent the majority of their time in trees, hunting insects and small animals, very much like modern civets. Although one of the first and most primitive hyena genera to appear, they were quite successful, appearing around 15 million years ago and surviving until 4-5 million years ago.[1]

Protictitherium
Temporal range: Miocene-Pliocene
P. crassum from Batallones 1 fossil site (Spain)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Hyaenidae
Subfamily: †Ictitheriinae
Genus: †Protictitherium
Kretzoi, 1938
Species
Protictitherium crassum
Protictitherium gaillardi
Protictitherium thessalonikensis

References
  1. Koufos, G. D.; Konidaris, G. E. (2011). "Late Miocene carnivores of the Greco-Iranian Province: Composition, guild structure and palaeoecology". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 305: 215. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.03.003.
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