Herpestoidea | |
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Top to bottom: Fossa, spotted hyena, Indian grey mongoose | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Suborder: | Feliformia |
Parvorder: | Viverroidea |
Superfamily: | Herpestoidea Bonaparte, 1845 |
Families | |
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Synonyms | |
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Herpestoidea is a superfamily of mammalia carnivores which includes mongooses,[2] Malagasy carnivorans[3] 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.[2] Herpestoids are feliforms and several of them specialize in hunting animals bigger than they are.[4]
They live throughout Eurasia, Africa and the island of Madagascar.[4]