Ginsburgsmilus
Name:
Ginsburgsmilus
(Ginsburg knife).
Phonetic: Gins-burg-smy-luss.
Named By: Morales et al - 2001.
Classification: Chordata, Mammalia, Carnivora,
Feliformia, Barbourofelidae.
Species: G. napakensis (type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Unavailable.
Known locations: Africa.
Time period: Burdigalian of the Miocene.
Fossil representation: Single specimen.
As a barbourofelid Ginsburgsmilus is more popularly known as a ‘false sabre-toothed cat’ since the Barbourofelidae are not thought to related to modern cats of today beyond the fact that they are all members of the Carnivora. As such Ginsburgsmilus is related to other members of the Barbourofelidae such as Sansanosmilus, Prosansanosmilus, Afrosmilus and Barbourofelis amongst others. Ginsburgsmilus lived long before the true cats appeared on the landscape, but would have still filled a similar ecological niche to them.
Further reading
- A new tribe, new genus and
two new species of Barbourofelinae (Felidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) from
the Early Miocene of East Africa and Spain. - Transactions of the Royal
Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences. 92 (01): 97–102. - J. Morales, M.
J. Salesa, M. Pickford & D. Soria - 2001.
Random favourites
 |
 |
 |