Oxyaenidae ("sharp hyenas") is a familyofextinct carnivorous placental mammals.[3] Traditionally classified in order Creodonta, this group is now classified in its own order Oxyaenodonta ("sharp tooth hyenas") within clade Pan-Carnivora in mirorder Ferae. The group contains four subfamilies comprising fourteen genera. Oxyaenids were the first to appear during the late PaleoceneinNorth America, while smaller radiations of oxyaenids in Europe and Asia occurred during the Eocene.[4]
| Oxyaenidae
Late Paleocene to Middle Eocene | |
|---|---|
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| skull of Palaeonictis occidentalis | |
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| reconstruction of Patriofelis ferox | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Mirorder: | Ferae |
| Clade: | Pan-Carnivora |
| Order: | †Oxyaenodonta Van Valen, 1971[2] |
| Family: | †Oxyaenidae Cope, 1877[1] |
| Type genus | |
| †Oxyaena Cope, 1874 | |
| Subfamilies | |
| Synonyms | |
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synonyms of order:
synonyms of family:
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The name of order Oxyaenodonta comes from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús) 'sharp', name of hyena genus Hyaena and from Ancient Greek ὀδούς (odoús) 'tooth'.
The name of family Oxyaenidae comes from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús) 'sharp', name of hyena genus Hyaena and taxonomic suffix "-idae".[5]
They were superficially cat-like mammals that walked on flat feet, in contrast to modern cats, which walk and run on their toes. Anatomically, characteristic features include a short, broad skull, deep jaws, and teeth designed for crushing rather than shearing, as in the hyaenodonts or modern cats.[citation needed]
Oxyaenids were specialized carnivores that preyed on other terrestrial vertebrates, eggs and insects. They were capable of climbing trees, which is suggested by fossil evidence of their paws.[citation needed]
Cladogram according to Gunnel in 1991:[8]
| Oxyaenidae |
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