Herpestides is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore that was endemic to North Africa and Southern Europe during the Early Miocene subepoch (22.4—20 mya) and existed for approximately 2.4 million years.[1]
Herpestides Temporal range:
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Suborder: | Feliformia |
Infraorder: | Aeluroidea |
Genus: | †Herpestides de Beaumont, 1967 |
Species | |
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Taxonomy
editHerpestides is considered to belong to the Aeluroidea group of cat-like carnivores[2] and, in particular, to the Viverridae.[3]
Four species are recognised:
- H. aegypticus
- H. aequatorialis
- H. antiquus
- H. compactus
References
edit- ^ "PaleoBiology Database: Herpestides, basic info". Archived from the original on 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ R. M. Hunt. 1989. Evolution of the aeluroid Carnivora: significance of the ventral promontorial process of the petrosal, and the origin of basicranial patterns in the living families. American Museum Novitates
- ^ Morlo, M.; et al. (2007). "Creodonta and Carnivora from Wadi Moghra, Egypt". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (1): 145–159. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[145:CACFWM]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 86235694.