Protictitherium

Taxobox
name = Protictitherium
status = Extinct
trend = unknown
image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Carnivora
familia = Hyaenidae
genus = "†Protictitherium"

The Protictitherium were a primitive genus of civet-like hyena, including the earliest species of hyena known, "Protictitherium gaillardi". They were small animals with retractable claws, who probably spent the majority of their time in trees, hunting insects and small animals. Although one of the first and most primitive hyena genera to appear, they were quite successful, appearing around 15 million years ago and surviving until 4-5 million years ago.