Barbourofelis
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Barbourofelis Temporal range: Late Miocene-Pliocene 13.6–5.3 Ma |
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| B. loveorum , Florida Museum of Natural History Fossil Hall at the University of Florida | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | †Barbourofelidae |
| Genus: | †Barbourofelis |
| Type species | |
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Barbourofelis fricki Schultz, Schultz & Martin, 1970 |
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| Species | |
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Barbourofelis is an extinct genus of large, predatory, feliform carnivoran mammals of the family Barbourofelidae (false saber-tooth cats). The genus was endemic to North America during the Miocene until its extinction during the Pliocene, living from 13.6—5.3 Ma and existing for approximately 8.3 million years.
Barbourofelis was named by Bertrand Schultz, Schultz d et al. (1970). Its type is Barbourofelis fricki and is the type genus of the subfamily Barbourofelinae. It was reassigned to Hoplophoneinae by Flynn and Galiano (1982);then to Barbourofelidae by Bryant (1991); and to Nimravidae by Schultz, et al. (1970) and Martin (1998).
A single specimen was examined by Legendre and Roth for body mass. The first specimen was estimated to weigh 66.4 kg (150 lb).
While the species B. fricki is thought to have been a lion-sized predator, other species in the genus, such as B. morrisi are believed to have been closer to the size of leopards. Species in this genus had the longest canines of all the barbourofelids, which were also flattened, indicating a high degree of specialization to its diet. These canines had a longitudinal groove on the lateral surface that has been described as a mean of allowing blood from a wound they have inflicted to flow away. This groove more likely was an adaptation to make the canines lighter while maintaining their strength. Other notable traits include the presence of a postorbital bar, the presence of a ventrally extended mental process (bony extensions on either side of the lower jaw), and the shortening of the skull behind the orbits. It had a very robust constitution, with B. morrisi as intermediate between the size of Sansanosmilus and B. fricki, which is thought to have been a particularly large predator, large individuals of B. fricki have been reconstructed with shoulder heights of around 90 cm (2 ft 11 in). The barbourofelids were probably very muscular, resembling a bear-like lion or lion-like bear. Based on its foot structure, species of Barbourofelis might have had a semi-plantigrade walking stance.Barbourofelis fricki also had a very small brain compared to its body size; its brain was similar in size to a bobcat's, indicating it was not as intelligent as later feliformes or true felids. Barbourofelis also had large carnassial teeth, meant for efficiently processing a carcass, indicating it lived in a highly competitive ecosystem or that it was social and would feed in a competitive, frenzied manner in order to eat as much as other members of its family group. Perhaps a combination of both scenarios was possible.
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