Superfamily of mammals
Herpestoidea is a superfamily of mammalia carnivores which includes mongooses, Malagasy carnivorans and the hyenas.
Herpestoids, with the exception of the hyenas, have a cylindrical and elongated body, which allows them to get into holes to catch prey. Herpestoids are feliforms and several of them specialize in hunting animals bigger than they are.
They live throughout Eurasia, Africa and the island of Madagascar.
Classification.
Superfamily Herpestoidea
Phylogenetic tree.
The phylogenetic relationships of Herpestoidea are shown in the following cladogram:
The family †Lophocyonidae, which was recovered as closely related to Hyaenidae in 2019, rather seems to belong somewhere between Viverridae and Herpestoidea.
References.
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