The Fossil Record of Hyaenids (Mammalia: Carnivora: Hyaenidae) in Greece

Abstract

The fossil hyaenids are abundant and diverse, in the Greek fossil record. The hyaenids originate from Viverridae and occur at the beginning of Miocene with some small-sized and dog-like arboreal forms. The earliest hyaenids of Greece appeared in the early/middle Miocene with the genus Protictitherium. During the late Miocene, more than ten species of hyaenids have been recognized. The ictitheriines Hyaenictitherium wongii and Ictitherium viverrinum, as well as the hyanine Adcrocuta eximia predominate in the late Miocene faunas. The small-sized primitive hyaenid Plioviverrops orbignyi is also common in the late Miocene faunas of Greece. The Plio-Pleistocene fossil record of hyaenids includes large-sized hunting and bone cracking hyaenas of the genera Chasmaporthetes, Pliocrocuta, Pachycrocuta, and Crocuta, but the known material is scarce. The total number of the Greek hyaenids includes eleven genera, 14 valid and one questionable species, among which there are two new genera and seven new species.