We all know the saber-toothed tiger. It may be old news that the animal had the iconic large teeth that came menacingly from its jaws even when its mouoth was closed. It is easy to imagine that this now-extinct tiger was aggressively hunting prey.
But a cat that actually hunts a rhino? It’s an interesting deal.
But it seems that such a cat existed millions of years ago. And just like the saber-toothed tiger, it had fangs protruding from its mouth.
Scientists have now been able to identify this huge new species of cat using a detailed fossil comparison technique. This is one of the largest cats discovered.
The scientific name of this cat is Machairodus lahayishupup. It had a body mass of 274 kilograms.
This cat was quite a mean predator. In carnivorous land mammals, the strength of the upper arm often proves to be crucial, as they use it not only for hunting prey, but also for holding and finishing work
Scientists involved in the study found fossils of this cat. This animal’s humerus has been found to be 1.4 times the size of the modern lion!
These cats may have roamed North America 5 to 9 million years ago. It is easy to imagine that with their strength they even hunted rhinos, which were abundant in North America at the time. This cat may even have been at the top of its food chain, easily ripping off its prey and even other carnivorous animals that crossed its path
Still think that cat videos on social media are ONLY cute?
Comments are closed.