What is giant short faced hyena?

The giant short-faced hyena (Pachycrocuta brevirostris) was one of the largest and most powerful species in the hyena family. It lived during the Pleistocene epoch, from about 1.8 million to 11,000 years ago, and was widespread throughout Eurasia, Africa, and North America.

The giant short-faced hyena had a robust build, with strong legs and a massive head. Its skull was short and broad, with powerful jaws and large teeth adapted for crushing bones. It could weigh up to 600 pounds (275 kg) and had a shoulder height of over 5 feet (1.5 meters).

The giant short-faced hyena was an apex predator and likely preyed on large herbivores such as horses, bison, and mammoths. It was also a scavenger and could crack open bones to access the nutritious marrow inside.

The species went extinct around the end of the Pleistocene, possibly due to climate change and competition with other predators such as wolves and lions. Its closest living relative is the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) of Africa.