| Lycyaena Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Skull | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Hyaenidae |
| Genus: | †Lycyaena Hensel, 1863 |
Lycyaena is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore in the family Hyaenidae.[1] Lycyaena was a cursorial hunting hyaena as opposed to full-time scavenger. It has been suggested by R. F. Ewer[2] that Lycyaena may be a possible ancestor to today's aardwolf (Proteles cristatus).
- ^ Turner, A.; Antón, M.; Werdelin, L. (2008). "Taxonomy and evolutionary patterns in the fossil Hyaenidae of Europe". Geobios. 41 (5): 677. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2008.01.001.
- ^ R. F. Ewer, The Carnivores (1973)