Nimravides is an extinct genus of machairodont that lived in North America during the middle and late Miocene, between 13.6 and 4.9 million years ago.
Description[]
Nimravides was a member of the Homotherini, and was by extent closely related to Amphimachairodus and Homotherium. Nimravides was quite large, with the largest species, N. catacopsis, being of similar size to a large tiger, measuring a meter at the shoulder. When it was first discovered, Nimravides was classified as a species in the genus Machairodus. However, subsequent analysis shows that the two cats are too different to be classified as members of the same genus or even in the same tribe within machairodontinae. Its canines were not large in comparison to those of the smilodontins like Megantereon and Smilodon (allowing them to fit comfortably in its mouth), but were still of significant length that they were formidable implements for hunting prey.
Paleoecology[]
The environment of Nimravides catacopsis in the Love Bone Beds deposits, which are of Clarendonian Age, was a mixture of grassland, riverine forest, and marshes. Nimravides would have shared territory with herbivorous animals like the amphibious rhinoceros Teleoceras, the protoceratid Synthetoceras, the camel Aepycamelus, horses like Neohipparion and Nannippus, and carnivores like the barbourofelid Barbourofelis fricki, the dogs Epicyon and Osteoborus, and the bear Agriotherium.
Gallery[]
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