Megistotherium osteothlastes (Savage 1973; Miocene, 23mya; 66cm skull length) was originally considered a giant hyaenodontid creodont. Here it nests with the marsupial beardog 'not Amphicyon'. The jaw muscles were enormous. The large diameter canines were housed in large, laterally expanded maxillae. The braincase was narrow.
In overall size and general features, Megistotherium is similar, by convergence, to the giant elephant shrew, Andrewsarchus. |