Herpestoidea

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Herpestoidea
Temporal range: 29.51–0 
Ma
Oligocene – Present[1]
 Top to bottom: Fossa, spotted hyena, Indian grey mongoose
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Parvorder: Viverroidea
Superfamily: Herpestoidea
Bonaparte, 1845
Families
See text
Synonyms
Hyaenoidea

Herpestoidea is a superfamily of

Malagasy carnivorans[3] and the hyenas
.

Herpestoids, with the exception of the hyenas, have a cylindrical and elongated body, which allows them to get into holes to catch prey.

feliforms and several of them specialize in hunting animals bigger than they are.[4]

They live throughout Eurasia, Africa and the island of Madagascar.[4]

Classification

Phylogenetic tree

The phylogenetic relationships of Herpestoidea are shown in the following cladogram:[5][6]

 Herpestoidea 
 Herpestidae 

Herpestidae (mongoose)

Eupleridae (Malagasy mongooses)

 sensu lato 
 Hyaenidae 

Lophocyonidae

Percrocutidae

Hyaenidae (hyaenas)

 sensu lato 

References

  1. PMID 28358848
    .
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ Wozencraft, 2005, pp. 560–561
  4. ^ a b Smith, S. All about Herpestoidea. pp. 150–231. Retrieved 08.31.2018
  5. .
  6. .