Data from: The cranium of Proviverra typica (Mammalia, Hyaenodonta) and its impact on hyaenodont phylogeny and endocranial evolution

We describe the first endocast reconstruction of a hyaenodont mammal based
on X‐ray microtomography. The endocast belongs to the type material of the
European hyaenodont Proviverra typica. We performed phylogenetic analysis
to contextualize the evolution of endocranial size and complexity in
Hyaenodonta. We added several European hyaenodonts and modified several
codings of the most recent character–taxon matrix established to question
the relationships within Hyaenodonta. Including these new species in a
phylogenetic analysis reveals a new clade: Hyaenodontoidea. Comparisons
with several previously described endocasts show that there was an
increase in complexity in the convolutions of the encephalon within
Hyaenodontidae history. Moreover, the analysis of the encephalization
quotient reveals that the endocranium of the Hyaenodonta is not smaller
than those of fossil Carnivora or some extant Carnivora. Therefore, the
extinction of Hyaenodonta may not be linked to the relative size of
hyaenodont brains.