Hyaenidae

Two more spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) skulls are being analyzed using finite element modeling. These adult specimens will complement the sub-adult skull already analyzed in the Dinocrocuta project and provide a modern functional comparison.

Two brown hyenas (Parahyaena brunnea) are studied to reveal the extent that the robust craniodental morphology in living hyaenines is phylogenetically inherited and not so much functionally maintained. The brown hyena does not hunt large prey and is much more of a scavenger than the spotted hyena.

The aardwolf (Proteles cristatus), one of the most enigmatic hyaenids, is a termite specialist. Its evolutionary position is controversial, partly because of its unique craniodental morphology, but also because of a poor fossil record. I am studying the aardwolf to understand how different the inferred cranial function really is when the skull is put to a bone-cracking task.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Canidae

Two skulls of the large borophagine canid Epicyon haydeni are being studied. From skeletal anatomy this robust species has many similarities to modern spotted hyenas such as large premolars that exhibit extensive wear (although functional tooth positions differ), a more caudally extended frontal sinus than modern canids, and a vaulted frontal cranium.

Please note that the first Epicyon haydeni cranium is one of our very own skulls from the Dove Spring Formation, Mojave Desert, California (LACM 131855)

A more basal taxon than Epicyon, Microtomarctus is a medium-sized borophagine that began to show a transition to hard-food eating with modified enamel microstructure. It is possible that this taxon is the canid equivalent of Ictitherium or Thalassictis, small-bodied hyaenids thought to represent the first taxa to begin showing evolutionary trend towards bone-cracking in the family.

Hesperocyoninae

Mesocyon represents a medium-sized hesperocyonine, the most ancient of the dog sub-families. It is unclear whether hesperocyonines had any durophagous (hard-food consuming) adaptations observed in later canids or hyaenids. This specimen is one of two hesperocyonines examined.

Representing the dawn of the dog family, Hesperocyon was one of the most common carnivorans during their time. They were most likely omnivorous / carnivorous predators, without adaptations for durophagy. This taxon represents the oldest carnivoran specimen to be examined in this project.