Homotherium is the scientific name of an extinct genus of felines that lived during the Pleistocene, approximately between 1.8 million and 11,000 years ago, and could measure 2.3 meters long and weigh about 200 kg.
Also known as "scimitar-toothed cats," these cats were carnivorous predators that shared the landscape with other iconic Ice Age species, such as mammoths and woolly rhinos.
Unlike modern felines, Homotherium had distinctive adaptations, one of the most notable being its long, flattened saber-shaped canine teeth. These tusks, while not as large as those of some of its relatives such as Smilodon, were still impressive and suggest that Homotherium had a unique hunting strategy.
Although they are believed to have been agile and fast hunters, Homotherium also had robust limbs, indicating that they may have been able to tackle larger prey. Their bone structure suggests that they could move efficiently both on land and in open habitats, allowing them to pursue and hunt various prey in different environments.
Homotherium fossils have been discovered in various parts of the world, from North America and Europe to Africa and Asia, suggesting a global distribution during its time. As the Pleistocene drew to a close and climate conditions changed, many species, including those of Homotherium, became extinct, leaving only their fossil remains to tell the story of these fascinating predators of ancient times.
Approximate measurements of the Homotherium:
Also known as "scimitar-toothed cats," these cats were carnivorous predators that shared the landscape with other iconic Ice Age species, such as mammoths and woolly rhinos.
Unlike modern felines, Homotherium had distinctive adaptations, one of the most notable being its long, flattened saber-shaped canine teeth. These tusks, while not as large as those of some of its relatives such as Smilodon, were still impressive and suggest that Homotherium had a unique hunting strategy.
Although they are believed to have been agile and fast hunters, Homotherium also had robust limbs, indicating that they may have been able to tackle larger prey. Their bone structure suggests that they could move efficiently both on land and in open habitats, allowing them to pursue and hunt various prey in different environments.
Homotherium fossils have been discovered in various parts of the world, from North America and Europe to Africa and Asia, suggesting a global distribution during its time. As the Pleistocene drew to a close and climate conditions changed, many species, including those of Homotherium, became extinct, leaving only their fossil remains to tell the story of these fascinating predators of ancient times.
Approximate measurements of the Homotherium:
- Scale1:35
- Length 53 mm
- Height 32 mm
- Snout-tail length 63 mm
- Scale 1:20
- Length 92mm
- Height 55mm
- Snout-tail length 110 mm
