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247 / Cenozoic
Megistotherium
Megistotherium osteothlastes
A skull nearly half a meter long and robust shearing teeth placed it among the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivores.
- Time range
- About 23–11 million years ago
- Final stage
- Middle Miocene
- Geographic range
- River plains and woodland · North Africa
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Megistotherium?
Megistotherium (Megistotherium osteothlastes) was an extinct organism known from About 23–11 million years ago, with a range in River plains and woodland · North Africa.
Life and ecology
Megistotherium was a giant hyaenodont that hunted or scavenged large mammals such as early proboscideans. Body mass remains uncertain from incomplete skeletons.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Megistotherium disappear?
Miocene African climate and carnivore turnover gradually replaced hyaenodonts with carnivorans.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Megistotherium?
Skulls, jaws and limb bones from Libya, Egypt and East Africa show great size and bone-processing ability.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS