Hyaenictitherium

Hyaenictitherium is an extinct genus of hyaenids that lived throughout Africa, Asia, and possibly Europe during the Late Miocene and Pliocene. The type species, H. hyaenoides, was similar in size to a striped hyena, whereas the smaller H. minimum was close in size to a jackal. Hyaenictitherium may represent a paraphyletic group.
Some authors argue that Hyaenotherium is a junior synonym of Hyaenictitherium, and that species belonging to this genus should be included in Hyaenictitherium.

Taxonomy

Hyaenictitherium was erected by Kretzoi with H. hyaenoides as the type species. H. venator was later described by Semenov. Werdelin & Solounias in their review of Hyaenidae included H. parvum, H. namaquensis, and H. pilgrimi in this genus. H. minimum was later described by Bonis et al.. H. barbarum was tentatively assigned to Hyaenictitherium by Geraads et al.. Some authors include species assigned to the genus Hyaenotherium, including H. wongii and H. ebu, under Hyaenictitherium.

Palaeobiology

Palaeoecology

H. wongii had an ecological niche very similar to Ictitherium viverrinum, with which it competed.