An ecomorphological characterization of the percrocutoid hyaenids: a multivariate approach using postcanine dentition

Percrocutoids are a group of Old World Neogene feliforms whose dentition evokes the adaptations shown by the most evolved forms of Pleistocene hyenas. This paper analyzes the ecomorphology of percrocutoid hyenas based on postcanine dentition from a multivariate metric perspective. Taking non-percrocutoid hyaenids as a reference, species of the genus Percrocuta and some species of the genus Dinocrocuta show a clear convergence with the transitional durophagous morphotypes and fully developed bone-crackers. In contrast, most Dinocrocuta species with increasing size develop very sectorial dentitions showing a clear convergence with the cursorial meat and bone-crackers hyaenids, such as those of the genus Chasmaporthetes. Through geological time, percrocutoids modified their upper dentition to a greater degree than standard hyaenids, while the opposite is observed for the lower dentition.