Patriofelis, Sarkastodon, Deltatheridium, Oxyaena and Australohyaena

Sarkastodon mongoliensis (Granger 1938; AMNH 26641; preserved skull length 37cm; Eocene, 35mya) was originally considered close to the creodont marsupial, Oxyaena. Here this giant bear-like carnivore nests closer to Hyaenodon. Distinctly the skull bones are fused. Only two robust procumbent premaxillary teeth are present and the multicusp molars have blunt tips, ideal for bone cracking.

Patriofelis ulta (Leidy 1873; Middle Eocene; 1.5m snout to vent length) was a traditional large hyaendont, but here nests with wolverines.

Deltatheridium pretrituberculare (Gregory and Simpson 1926; Late Cretaceous, Santonian) was traditionally considered basal to Metatheria, but here nests as a derived metatherian basal to Oxyaena and Australohyaena. It is known from two partial cat-like skulls.

Oxyaena lupina (Cope 1874; Paleocene-Eocene, 55-50 mya; 1 m long) was a leopard-like predator, but some say plantigrade. Here it is shown digitigrade and this seems more appropriate. The related Thylacinus is digitigrade. Traditionally considered a creodont, here this cat-like meat-eater nests between Arctocyon and Thylacinus in the Marsupialia.

Australohyaena antiqua (Forasiepi et al. 2014; Late Oligocene; UNPSJB PV 113) was originally nested with Borhyaena, but here nests with a previously untested taxon, Oxyaena. Australohyaena is larger and more robust, but the orbit is no larger. The horizontal bar jaw joint makes the jaw a simple hinge with not transverse action possible. The jaw joint falls below the tooth row.

Cope ED 1874. Report upon vertebrate fossils discovered in New Mexico, with descriptions of new species. Chief of Engineers Annual Report, Appendix, S. 589-606, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington.

Forasiepi AM, Babot MJ and Zimicz N 2014. Australohyaena antiqua (Mammalia,
Metatheria, Sparassodonta), a large predator from the Late Oligocene of Patagonia, Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2014.926403

Granger W 1938. A giant oxyaenid from the Upper Eocene of Mongolia. American Museum Novitates 969:1–5.

Gregory WK and Simpson GG 1926. Cretaceous mammal skulls from Mongolia. American Museum Novitates 225:20pp.

Leidy J 1873. Contributions to the extinct vertebrate fauna of the Western Territories,
Rep. US Geol. Surv. Terr. (Hayden), vol. 1, pt. 1, pp. 7-358 (114-116, 316), pis. 1-37.

Rougier GW, Wible JR and Novacek MJ 1998. Implications of Deltatheridium specimens for early marsupial history. Nature. 396 (6710): 459–63. doi:10.1038/24856

wiki/Patriofelis
wiki/Sarkastodon
wiki/Deltatheridium
wiki/Oxyaena
wiki/Australohyaena