Dinocrocuta (D. brevirostris) is an extinct genus of mammal that lived during the Miocene of the Neogen period, approximately between 1.8 million years ago and 30,000 years ago. This genus belongs to the hyenid family (Hyaenidae) and is characterized by being a very large and robust species.
There were several species of Dinocrocuta, the best known being Dinocrocuta gigantea and Dinocrocuta brevirostris. D. gigantea was the largest species, with a height at the withers of about 1.5 meters and an estimated weight of about 500 kilograms, making it one of the largest hyenas that ever lived. By comparison, the current spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) weighs around 70-90 kilograms.
Dinocrocuta is characterized by having a large and broad head with a very powerful jaw and huge teeth. The teeth of this prehistoric hyena were so large that they often broke or wore away from the great pressure exerted when biting into the bones of their prey. In fact, fossil remains of Dinocrocuta have been found with bite marks from other members of their own species, suggesting that they were highly aggressive animals and frequently fought each other. Unlike modern hyenas, Dinocrocuta had long, strong legs, suggesting that it was a fast and agile runner. This species is believed to have hunted large prey, such as mammoths and woolly rhinos, and also ate carrion.
Although Dinocrocuta is an extinct genus, fossil remains have been found in many places in Europe and Asia, indicating that it had a very wide geographic distribution during the Pleistocene. Furthermore, it has been discovered that this species shared its habitat with other large predators, such as the saber-toothed tiger and the cave bear.
Approximate measurements of the Dinocrocuta:
- Complete 1:20 scale
- Length 114 mm
- Height 80 mm
- Width 40 mm
- Snout-tail base length 110 mm
