PBDB Taxon

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Oxyaenidae

Mammalia - Creodonta - Oxyaenidae

Taxonomy

Oxyaenidae was named by Cope (1877). Its type is Oxyaena.

It was synonymized subjectively with Hyaenodontidae by Hay (1902).

It was assigned to Creodonta by Cope (1891); to Carnivora by Peterson (1919); to Oxyaenoidae by Hay (1930); to Oxyaenoidea by Van Valen (1967); to Creodonta by Cope (1880), Cope (1880), Carroll (1988), Stucky and Hardy (2007), Chester et al. (2010) and Rose et al. (2012); and to Oxyaenodonta by Zack (2019).

Subtaxa

Dipsalidictis (syn. Dipsalidictides), Dipsalodon, Dormaalodon, Galethylax, Machaeroides, Machaeroidinae, Oxyaeninae, Palaeonictinae, Sarkastodon, Tytthaena

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1877	Oxyaenidae Cope p. 89
1880	Oxyaenidae Cope
1891	Oxyaenidae Cope p. 6
1919	Oxyaenidae Peterson p. 42
1930	Oxyaenidae Hay p. 470
1967	Oxyaenidae Van Valen
1988	Oxyaenidae Carroll
2007	Oxyaenidae Stucky and Hardy
2010	Oxyaenidae Chester et al. p. 232
2012	Oxyaenidae Rose et al. p. 60
2019	Oxyaenidae Zack p. 17

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
subclass	Synapsida
—	Therapsida	()
infraorder	Cynodontia	()

Rank	Name	Author
—	Mammaliamorpha
—	Mammaliaformes
class	Mammalia
—	Theriamorpha	(Rowe 1993)
—	Theriiformes	()
—	Trechnotheria
—	Cladotheria
—	Zatheria
subclass	Tribosphenida	()
subclass	Theria
—	Eutheria	()
—	Placentalia
—	Boreoeutheria
—	Laurasiatheria
—	Scrotifera
—	Ferae	()
order	Creodonta	()
—	Oxyaenodonta	Van Valen 1971
family	Oxyaenidae
family	Oxyaenidae

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. †Oxyaenidae Cope 1877

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G. †Dipsalidictis Matthew and Granger 1915

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†Dipsalidictis aequidens Matthew and Granger 1915

†Dipsalidictis krausei Gunnell and Gingerich 1991

†Dipsalidictis platypus Matthew and Granger 1915

†Dipsalidictis transiens Matthew and Granger 1915

Invalid names: Dipsalidictis amplus Jepsen 1930 [synonym]

Invalid names: Dipsalidictides Denison 1938 [synonym]

G. †Dipsalodon Jepsen 1930

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†Dipsalodon churchillorum Rose 1981

†Dipsalodon matthewi Jepsen 1930

G. †Dormaalodon Lange-Badré 1987

G. †Galethylax Gervais 1850

G. †Machaeroides Matthew 1909

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†Machaeroides eothen Matthew 1909

†Machaeroides simpsoni Dawson et al. 1986

Subfm. †Machaeroidinae

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G. †Apataelurus Scott 1937

†Apataelurus kayi Scott 1937

†Apataelurus pishigouensis Tong and Lei 1986

G. †Diegoaelurus Zach et al. 2022

†Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae Zach et al. 2022

Subfm. †Oxyaeninae Trouessart 1885

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G. †Malfelis Stucky and Hardy 2007

†Malfelis badwaterensis Stucky and Hardy 2007

G. †Oxyaena Cope 1874

†Oxyaena forcipata Cope 1874

Invalid names: Oxyaena ultima Denison 1938 [synonym]

†Oxyaena gulo Matthew and Granger 1915

†Oxyaena intermedia Denison 1938

†Oxyaena lupina Cope 1874

Invalid names: Oxyaena huerfanensis Osborn 1897 [synonym], Oxyaena morsitans Cope 1874 [synonym]

†Oxyaena pardalis Matthew and Granger 1915

†Oxyaena simpsoni Van Valen 1966

†Oxyaena woutersi Lange-Badré and Godinot 1982

Invalid names: Argillotherium Davies 1884 [synonym]

G. †Patriofelis Leidy 1870

†Patriofelis ferox Marsh 1872

Invalid names: Limnofelis latidens Marsh 1872 [synonym]

†Patriofelis leidyanus Osborn and Wortman 1892

†Patriofelis ulta Leidy 1870

Invalid names: Patriofelis coloradensis Matthew 1909 [synonym], Patriofelis compressa Denison 1938 [synonym]

Invalid names: Aelurotherium Adams 1896 [synonym], Limnofelis Marsh 1872 [synonym], Oreocyon Marsh 1872 [synonym]

Subfm. †Palaeonictinae Denison 1938

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G. †Ambloctonus Cope 1875

†Ambloctonus major Denison 1938

†Ambloctonus priscus Matthew and Granger 1915

†Ambloctonus sinosus Cope 1875

Invalid names: Ambloctonus hyaenoides Matthew and Granger 1915 [synonym]

G. †Palaeonictis de Blainville 1842

†Palaeonictis gigantea de Blainville 1842

Invalid names: Dormaalodon woutersi Lange-Badré 1987 [synonym], Oxyaena casieri Quinet 1966 [synonym]

†Palaeonictis occidentalis Osborn 1892

†Palaeonictis peloria Rose 1981

†Palaeonictis wingi Chester et al. 2010

G. †Sarkastodon Granger 1938

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†Sarkastodon henanensis Tong and Lei 1986

†Sarkastodon mongoliensis Granger 1938

G. †Tytthaena Gingerich 1980

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†Tytthaena lichna Rose 1981

†Tytthaena parrisi Gingerich 1980

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

terrestrialsubc

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Life habit:

ground dwellingf

Diet:

carnivoref

Reproduction:

viviparoussubc

Created:

2005-08-30 14:43:59

Modified:

2005-08-30 16:43:59

Source: f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum

References: Lillegraven 1979, Gunnell 1998, Hendy et al. 2009, Ji et al. 2002, Carroll 1988

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Paleocene to the top of the Priabonian or 58.70000 to 33.90000 Ma

Collections (273 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (Wyoming)	Dipsalidictis krausei (190428 190456 190483) Dipsalodon churchillorum (15056 15068 53059 190472) Tytthaena parrisi (14936 15017)
Late/Upper Paleocene	58.7 - 55.8	Mongolia	Oxyaena sp. (133399)
Clarkforkian	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Wyoming)	Dipsalidictis aequidens (15111 15152) Dipsalidictis aequidens, Dipsalidictis krausei (15159) Dipsalidictis krausei (15134 164518 190455) Dipsalidictis platypus (15100) Dipsalodon matthewi (15086) Dipsalodon matthewi, Oxyaena platypus, Oxyaena transiens, Dipsalodon sp. (15092) Dipsalodon matthewi, Oxyaena transiens (15119) Dipsalodon sp., Dipsalodon matthewi, Oxyaena transiens, Oxyaena lichna (15126) Oxyaena aequidens (15085 15091 15099 15150 15155 15186 15187 15195) Oxyaena lichna (15156 15212) Oxyaena platypus (15198) Oxyaena transiens (15084 15087 15103 15109 15122 15124 15176) Palaeonictis peloria (15107 15112 15165)
Clarkforkian	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Colorado)	Palaeonictis sp. (15234 15237 15257 15259 15347)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	France (Oise)	Oxyaena woutersi, Palaeonictis gigantea (68174)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	France (Île-de-France)	Oxyaena sp., Palaeonictis gigantea (68437)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	France (Marne)	Palaeonictis gigantea (35537)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	United Kingdom (England)	Argillotherium toliapicum (13299) Palaeonictis gigantea (174239) Palaeonictis gigantea, Oxyaena sp. (38868)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Belgium (Brabant)	Palaeonictis gigantea (174627) Palaeonictis gigantea, Arfia woutersi, Dormaalodon woutersi (35531)
Irdinmanhan	56.0 - 37.71	China (Nei Mongol)	Sarkastodon mongoliensis (182487)
Graybullian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	Oxyaena intermedia (15701)
Lostcabinian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	Machaeroides simpsoni (15464 15950) Oxyaena sp. (15917) Oxyaenidae indet. (16068)
Sandcouleean	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	Palaeonictis wingi (100280)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	Mexico (Baja California)	Oxyaena sp. (15671)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Utah)	Oxyaena transiens (15718)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	Ambloctonus hyaenoides (15567) Ambloctonus major, Oxyaena sp. (15479 15662) Ambloctonus priscus (15689) Dipsalidictis platypus (15731) Dipsalidictis platypus, Palaeonictis sp. (15759) Dipsalidictis transiens (15734 15735 15749 15755 15761 15788 46659 46691) Dipsalidictis transiens, Oxyaena gulo (15754) Dipsalidictis transiens, Oxyaena gulo, Oxyaena intermedia (46780) Dipsalidictis transiens, Oxyaena gulo, Palaeonictis occidentalis (46786) Dipsalidictis transiens, Palaeonictis occidentalis (15590 15750) Oxyaena forcipata (15534 15576 15618 15687 15697 15702 15707 15814 15964 46682 46699 46701 46702 46719 46761 186935) Oxyaena forcipata, Oxyaena intermedia (15694 46733 46820) Oxyaena forcipata, Oxyaena sp. (15839) Oxyaena gulo (15505 15507 15509 15513 15589 15592 15594 15728 15741 15743 15779 15793 15796 15943 46636 46646 46672 46674 46690 46726 46771 46778 46781 46793 46797 46803 46807 46812 46841) Oxyaena gulo, Oxyaena intermedia (15683 46792 46834) Oxyaena intermedia (15593 15692 15703 15783 46696 46721 46730 46735 46738 46794 46813 46819 46836) Oxyaena intermedia, Palaeonictis occidentalis (15682) Oxyaena sp. (15455 15468 15493 15504 15515 15520 15522 15523 15532 15540 15541 15542 15546 15547 15549 15551 15552 15553 15555 15556 15557 15558 15559 15565 15573 15577 15578 15704 15729 15918 15933 15934 46727 46739 46756 46790 46801 46809 46821 46831) Oxyaena sp., Ambloctonus sinosus (15554) Oxyaena sp., Oxyaena gulo (15512 15516) Oxyaena sp., Oxyaena gulo, Palaeonictis occidentalis (15510) Oxyaena sp., Palaeonictis occidentalis (15518 15524 15531) Oxyaena transiens, Palaeonictis occidentalis (15491) Oxyaenidae indet. (15486 15535 15942) Palaeonictis occidentalis (15503 15705 15732 15765 15769 46688 46732 46736 46783 46814 109302) Palaeonictis occidentalis, Oxyaena sp. (15756)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Colorado)	Oxyaena forcipata (15220 15371 15374 15375 15377 15381) Oxyaena gulo (15425) Oxyaena lupina (15399 15650) Oxyaena pardalis (15416 15424) Oxyaena sp. (15480 15485 15887)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (New Mexico)	Ambloctonus sp., Oxyaena sp. (15448) Oxyaena forcipata (15608) Oxyaena lupina, Oxyaena simpsoni, Ambloctonus hyaenoides (15663) Oxyaena sp. (15439 15441) Oxyaenidae indet. (15442) Stypolophus morsitans (15452)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	Canada (Northwest Territories)	Palaeonictis sp. (15583 15840)
Early/Lower Eocene	55.8 - 48.6	France	Palaeonictis gigantea (123459)
Early/Lower Eocene	55.8 - 48.6	France (Marne)	Oxyaena sp. (182644)
Early/Lower Eocene	55.8 - 48.6	China (Shandong)	Oxyaena sp. (77929)
Early/Lower Eocene	55.8 - 48.6	USA (Wyoming)	Dipsalidictis platypus (154262) Oxyaena forcipata (15680 15690) Oxyaena intermedia (15700) Oxyaena sp. (15684) Oxyaenidae indet. (154274)
Early/Lower Eocene	55.8 - 48.6	France (Oise)	Palaeonictis gigantea (144104)
Bridgerian	50.3 - 46.2	USA (Colorado)	Patriofelis ulta (16141 16241)
Bridgerian	50.3 - 46.2	USA (Wyoming)	Machaeroides eothen, Patriofelis ulta (16448) Patriofelis ferox (16213 16234 16403 16406 16647 223468 223474 223477 223511 223512) Patriofelis latidens, Patriofelis ulta (16228) Patriofelis sp. (15837 16212 16223) Patriofelis sp., Malfelis badwaterensis, Oxyaenidae indet. (16207) Patriofelis ulta (16308 16310 16315)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	USA (Oregon)	Patriofelis ferox (16202)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	Mongolia	Sarkastodon mongoliensis (127656)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	China (Nei Mongol)	Sarkastodon mongoliensis (28792)
Late/Upper Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	USA (California)	Apataelurus sp., Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae (16585)
Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	USA (Utah)	Apataelurus kayi (16646)
Priabonian	38.0 - 33.9	United Kingdom (England)	Argillotherium toliapicum (39643)
Late/Upper Eocene - Early/Lower Oligocene	37.2 - 28.4	China (Henan)	Propterodon pishigouensis, Sarkastodon henanensis (174738)