Hyaenodon

Hyaenodon ("hyena-tooth") is an extinct genus of carnivorous placental mammals from the tribe Hyaenodontini, part of the subfamily Hyaenodontinae (which is within the family Hyaenodontidae), that belonged to the now extinct order Hyaenodonta. The genus was found lived in Eurasia and North America from the Middle Eocene to the Early Miocene, from 38 to 17 million years ago, existing for . Hyaenodon first evolved in Asia, probably evolving from Propterodon.

The genus currently consists of at least 40 species, although due to sexual dimorphism and intraspecific variation, there were likely fewer species within the genus. The species within the genus ranged in size from H. filholi, which weighed , to H. gigas and H. mongoliensis, which were estimated to be similar in size to Hyainailouros. The largest species were likely the apex predators of their time, with fossil records suggesting they could have occasionally hunted smaller predators. Several species within the genus were cursorial predators, either being ambushing or pounce-pursuit predators. The canines of the animal mediolaterally compressed much like canids, landing shallow bites on their prey. Unlike canids such as wolves, they are thought to have been solitary predators.