Borhyaena

Borhyaena
Temporal range: Early Miocene

[1]

B. tuberata skull
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Metatheria
Order: Sparassodonta
Family: Borhyaenidae
Genus: Borhyaena
Ameghino, 1887
Species
  • B. tuberata
  • B. macrodonta

Borhyaena is an extinct genus of South American metatherian, living between 20 and 15 million years ago. Borhyaena was a predator and had a large head and a long, powerful neck similar to living hyenas, its legs were cursorial, albeit less specialized than those of wolves or the marsupial thylacine. The most complete specimen is estimated to have weighted 23 kilograms (51 lb) and stood 50 centimetres (1.6 ft) at the shoulders.[2]

Restoration of Theosodon garretorum and Borhyaena tuberata

References

  1. Marshall, Larry G. (1978). "Evolution of the Borhyaenidae, extinct South American predaceous marsupials" 117. University of California Press: 1–89.
  2. Argot, C. (2003). "Functional adaptations of the postcranial skeleton of two Miocene borhyaenoids (Mammalia, Metatheria), Borhyaena and Prothylacinus, from South America.". Palaeontology 46 (6): 1213–1267. doi:10.1046/j.0031-0239.2003.00339.x.
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