Nimravus

history

|regnum = Animalia |phylum = Chordata |classis = Mammalia |ordo = Carnivora |unranked_ordo = Feliformia |familia = Nimravidae |genus = Nimravus |genus_authority = Cope, 1879 |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision =

  • N. altidens
  • N. brachyops
  • N. edwardsi
  • N. gomphodus
  • N. intermedius
  • N. sectator
}} Nimravus is an extinct genus of sabertoothed, predatory feliform mammals related to felids. Its name is a reference to the Biblical character Nimrod the Hunter, as the generic name Nimravus is a compound word composed of "Nimrod" and "Avus (ancestor)," thus translating as "Ancestor of Nimrod."

Species have been found in France and parts of North America from the early Oligocene to early Miocene.

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 claws. 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 Eusmilus.

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.

References

home | This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. See full license termsIt uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nimravus ". | compliance | July 01st 2009