of Frozen specimen from 36,000 years ago Originally from Yakutia Homotherium latidensA species of scimitar-toothed cat that lived in Eurasia during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs.The modern lion cub is characterized by elongated front legs, an unusually shaped muzzle with a large mouth and small ears, and a very large body. differs greatly. Neck area and dark coat.
Homotherium latidens It was 1.5 to 2 meters long, up to 1.1 meters high, and weighed up to 200 kilograms, about the same size as an average modern lion or tiger.
However, its physical appearance is It was different Differences from other big cats: This extinct species had long saber-like canine teeth, a sloping back, and a short tail.
“homotherium was widespread during the Pliocene to Pleistocene in Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas,” said lead author Dr. Alexei Lopatin and his colleagues.
“For a long time, as the latest presence, homotherium Records in Eurasia were recorded in the Middle Pleistocene. ”
“The key event was the discovery of a late Pleistocene mandible. Homotherium latidens It comes from the North Sea and dates back 28,000 years. ”
“The largest number of Late Pleistocene discoveries homotherium It is concentrated in North America (more than 30 regions), where it is traditionally classified as a species. homotherium serum”
In the new study, the authors examined frozen mummified corpses. Homotherium latidens A baby discovered in the Pleistocene permafrost at a place called Badlyikskoe, along the Badlyikkha River in northeastern Yakutia, Siberia.
“A large number of bones of representative mammoth animals have been collected from the loess loam of the Yedma horizon in this region,” they said.
Researchers say the Bajarica specimen is about 36,000 years old.
“The specimen includes the head and the anterior part of the body, which was preserved up to the caudal end of the thorax,” the researchers said.
“Some people have an incomplete pelvis with joints that connect with the femur and shin bones.”
“The baby was found trapped in ice along with its front part.”
According to the team's analysis, most of the postcranial features are Homotherium latidens It can be tracked already at 3 weeks of age.
“The length of the preserved part is homotherium The length from the tip of the baby's nose to the thoracic gap (at the level of the 12th vertebra) is 248 mm,” the scientists said.
“The body is Covered with short, thick, soft dark brown fur The length of the hair is about 20-30mm. The fur on the back and neck is longer than on the legs. ”
“Two rows of wool are clearly visible on the upper lip, most of which are broken off at a height of 3 to 5 mm from the base.”
“The hair around the corners of the mouth has grown considerably.”
“The overall morphology of the skull is typical of juvenile felines,” the researchers added.
“The skull is also characterized by a relatively long facial area, a rounded braincase, an expanded zygomatic arch, a wide area of the premaxilla, and large maxillary deciduous incisors.”
“The bones of the nose are homotherium Compared to lion cubs, the cubs are significantly shorter and wider. ”
“The neck is longer than a lion's and more than twice as thick,” they said.
“The difference in thickness is explained by the large amount of muscle visually observed at the site where the skin was separated from the mummified flesh.”
“The length of the forelimb is homotherium Lion cubs are 18-23% larger than baby lions. ”
“At the same time, the body length of the latter is homotherium Or about 10% more. ”
“The increased size of the mouth cleft indicates adaptation to a wider mouth cleft.”
” front paws homotherium turnip It has a round shape. Its width is about the same as its body length, in contrast to lion cubs, whose front legs are long and relatively narrow. ”
“All claws are sharp and strongly curved. In cross section, the claws are laterally compressed, giving them the same shape as a lion cub.”
“The wide feet, square-shaped pads, and lack of carpal pads are adaptations to walking in snow and cold temperatures.”
“The pinna is small and low, and there is no carpal bone in Bajarica.” homotherium This contrasts with the taller pinnae and normally developed pads of lion cubs. All these characteristics can be interpreted as adaptations to life in cold climates. ”
discovery of Homotherium latidens Cub fundamentally expands our understanding of the distribution of this genus and confirms its presence in the Late Pleistocene of Asia.
“For the first time in the history of paleontological research, the appearance of an extinct mammal with no analogues in modern fauna has been directly studied,” the authors concluded.
their paper Published in this week's magazine scientific report.
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AV Lopatin others. 2024. Mummy of a young saber-toothed tiger Homotherium latidens From the Upper Pleistocene of Siberia. science officer 14, 28016; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79546-1
Source: www.sci.news
