Hoplophoneus is an extinct genus of nimravid mammal that lived in North America during the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene epochs around 35-29 million years ago.
Originally known as Drepanodon, fossils of this mammal were renamed Hoplophoneus by Edward Drinker Cope in 1874. Although resembling a big cat, Hoplophoneus was actually one of the nimravids, more popularly known as the ‘false sabre-toothed cats’. Nimravids were descended from an early off shoot of the carnivora and were actively hunting long before the emergence of the true cats of the Felidae. Nimravids seem to have anticipated the later sabre-toothed cats like Machairodus and Smilodon since many also have enlarged sabre-like canine teeth in the upper jaw. Like with many of its relations, Hoplophoneus also had two flanges of bone that grew downwards from the lower jaw. These gave extra support and protection to the canines because when the mouth was closed the tips of the upper canines extended well beyond the lower jaw. The relatively short legs of Hoplophoneus indicate that it could accelerate to top running speed very quickly, but would also have its top speed limited because its legs could not cover as much ground with every stride. For this reason Hoplophoneus is seen as an ambush hunter that would lie within the cover of the undergrowth before exploding out and chasing down prey animals before they had time to react and run away. Likely prey could have included primitive horses such as Mesohippus that were not only much smaller than modern forms, but were also browsers of vegetation (horses would not start switching to become grazers of grass until later). This would place Hoplophoneus in a prime vantage point for striking at prey since ultimately prey would have to come to the areas where it was hiding in order to feed.
Quick Facts[]
Name: Hoplophoneus (Armed murderer). Named By: Edward Drinker Cope - 1874. Synonyms: Dinotomius, Drepanodon, Eusmilus dakotensis, Hoplophoneus insolens, Hoplophoneus latidens, Hoplophoneus marshi, Hoplophoneus molossus, Hoplophoneus oharrai, Hoplophoneus oreodontis, Hoplophoneus robustus, Machairodus occidentalis, Machaerodus oreodontis, Nanosmilus kurteni. Classification: Chordata, Mammalia, Carnivore, Nimravidae, Hoplophoninae. Species: H. dakotensis, H. kurteni, H. mentalis, H. occidentalis, H. primaevus, H. sicarius. Diet: Carnivore. Size: Around 1.3 meters long and estimated up to 160 kilograms. Known locations: Canada and the USA. Time period: Bartonian of the Eocene through to the early Rupelian of the Oligocene. Fossil representation: Multiple specimens.
Classification[]
Hoplophoneus mentalis
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | †Nimravidae |
| Subfamily: | †Hoplophoninae |
| Genus: | †Hoplophoneus Cope, 1874 |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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In popular culture[]
- Hoplophoneus appeared in the video game Fossil Fighters.
- Hoplophoneus appeared in the video game Fossil Fighters: Champions.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Hoplophoneus primaevus by R. B. Horsfall (coloured).jpg (48 KB)")
