[citation needed] The skull of D. gigantea is proportionally larger relative to body size in comparison to living hyenas.

D. gigantea ranged from Central China to Spain,[8] and encompassed areas in between, like Mongolia, India, Pakistan,[9] Iran, Turkey,[10] Bulgaria,[11] and Greece.

[13] In the Hezheng basin of China, Dinocrocuta was the dominant carnivore during the early Late Miocene, from around 11 to 7 million years ago.

A skull and jaw from a female Chilotherium bears the distinctive bite marks on the forehead from a Dinocrocuta's teeth, indicating that the rhino was part of the carnivore's diet.

The regrowth of bone on the rhino's injuries also indicate that the Dinocrocuta's attempt at predation failed and that the rhinoceros fought off her attacker, managing to escape and heal.