Nimravus is an extinct genus of Nimravidae that lived in North America and Eurasia during the late Eocene and Oligocene epochs 35.3—27.1 Annum,
Description
Nimravus was around in body length. With its sleek body, it may have resembled the modern
caracal, although it had a longer back and more
dog-like feet with partially retractile
. It probably hunted birds and small mammals, ambushing them like modern cats, rather than chasing them down.
Nimravus competed with other false sabre-tooths such as
Hoplophoneus.
Pathology
A
Nimravus skull, found in North America, had been pierced in the forehead region, the hole exactly matching the dimensions of the sabre-like canine of
Eusmilus. This particular individual of
Nimravus apparently survived this encounter, as the wound showed signs of healing. Another
Nimravus fossil from Nebraska was described in 1959 by paleontologist Loren Toohey, and comprises a
Nimravus skull with saber-teeth embedded into the humerus of another
Nimravus, indicating a fatal incidence of intra-specific combat.
[ The Dakota Badlands Used to Host Sabertoothed Pseudo-Cat Battles]
External links
