creodont

Creodonts were an extinct order of placental mammals that lived from the Paleocene to the Miocene epochs. They are often referred to as "carnivorous ungulates" due to their presumed predatory lifestyle and some superficial resemblances to early hoofed mammals. However, they are not directly ancestral to modern carnivorans. Creodonts possessed specialized teeth for shearing flesh, including enlarged, blade-like premolars and carnassials. Their overall body plans varied significantly, with some being slender and agile, while others were robust and bear-like. Several families existed within the order, such as the oxyaenids and the hyaenodontids, which dominated predatory niches in their respective environments. These animals ranged in size from small, weasel-like creatures to massive predators that rivaled modern big cats. Their extinction is generally attributed to competition with the more evolutionarily successful and diverse order Carnivora, which eventually occupied most of the predatory roles.