The hyaena of the Carnivora should not
be confused with Hyaenodonof the
Creodonta. These two groups differed in
several important-features, including the
bones of the ear and foot, the pattern of
teeth, and a relatively smaller brain among
the creodonts.Inthe Carnivora, the rearmost
upper-premolar tooth moves down against
the first Iowermolartooth $0 that their
sharp edges work together like shearing
blades= thisiscalled the carnassial
pattern. Hyaenas have a slight
variation: on this 'pattern, with
certain teeth missing. The
massive jaws; with fairly
tall-crowned but blunt
teeth, exert "spots' of,
pressure - essential for
cracking gristle and bone.