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] Superfamily Herpestoidea[5] The phylogenetic relationships of Herpestoidea are shown in the following cladogram:[6][7][5] Herpestidae (mongoose) Eupleridae (Malagasy mongooses) †Percrocutidae Hyaenidae (hyaenas) The family †Lophocyonidae, which was recovered as closely related to Hyaenidae in 2019, rather seems to belong somewhere between Viverridae and Herpestoidea.