Creodont facts for kids

Mount of oxyaenid Patriofelis from the American Museum of Natural History.

The Creodonta were an extinct group of mammals. They lived from about 60 million years ago (mya) in the Paleocene epoch until about 8 mya in the Miocene epoch.

Creodonts were distant relatives of today's carnivores, like lions and wolves. Both groups had special meat-slicing teeth called carnassials. But these teeth developed differently in creodonts and modern carnivores. This means creodonts were not the direct ancestors of today's carnivores.

Outline and front view of skull of Sarkastodon mongoliensis.

Skull of oxyaenid Machaeroides eothen.

For a long time, creodonts were the main meat-eating mammals. They lived in Africa, Eurasia, and North America. They were the top predators in Africa during the Oligocene epoch.

But eventually, modern carnivores became more successful. The last creodonts died out about eight million years ago. Today, modern carnivores fill the same ecological niches that creodonts once did.

Amazing Adaptations

Creodonts had many special features that helped them hunt. These features were similar to those found in modern carnivores. This is an example of convergent evolution. It means different groups of animals develop similar traits because they live similar lifestyles.

One key adaptation was their carnassial teeth. These teeth were shaped like scissors. They were perfect for slicing through meat.

Why They Disappeared

Modern carnivores developed bigger brains. They also became better at running. This gave them an advantage.

Over time, forests and woodlands changed into grasslands. This happened during the Miocene epoch. The new open spaces favored animals that could run faster. Modern carnivores were better suited to these new environments.

Because of this, creodonts slowly lost their place. They eventually became extinct.

Images for kids

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  Sinopa fossils: (1) Right upper cheek teeth, P2-M2; (2) Left ramus of mandible (p2-m2); (3) Right ramus of mandible (c-m2).

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  Comparison of carnassial teeth of wolf and typical hyaenodontid and oxyaenid

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  Dorsal view of the skull of the limnocyonid (?) Limnocyon verus.

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  Mounted skeleton of the hyaenodontid Sinopa rapax from Bridger Basin.

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  Upper teeth of Creodonts from Middle Eocene Bridger Basin, Wyoming

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  Patriofelis

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  Skull of Hyaenodon

See also

In Spanish: Creodontos para niños