Sarkastodon was probably a hypercarnivore that preyed on large mammals in its range during the Middle Eocene, such as brontotheres, chalicotheres, and rhinoceroses.

[4] The type specimens of S. mongoliensis are known from Eocene deposits from the Irdin Manha Formation of Mongolia.

Additional material referred to Sarkastodon is known from the Ulan Shireb beds (160 kilometres or 100 miles from the holotype locality) of Inner Mongolia.

These specimens were discovered by Walter W. Granger in 1930, on an expedition to the Gobi Desert.

[5][6] The sharp, slicing premolars (which form roughly rectilinear cutting blades)[7] and crushing molars enabled Sarkastodon to eat both bone and flesh.