Saqraphuma

The Saqraphuma (Thylacosmilus atrox; Quechua for "evil lion") is an extinct genus of saber-toothed metatherian mammals that inhabited South America from the Late Miocene to Pliocene epochs.

Etymology

Saqraphuma is a Quechua word: saqra "evil" and puma "lion" or "cougar".

In 1933, the American paleontologist Elmer S. Riggs named and preliminarily described the new genus Thylacosmilus based on these specimens, while noting that a full description was being prepared and would be published at a later date. The generic name Thylacosmilus means "pouch knife", while the specific name atrox means "cruel".

Physical Appearance

Thylacosmilus bears a resemblance to "saber-toothed cats" in appearance; however, unlike the well-known Smilodon of North America, it was a sparassodont, a group closely related to marsupials, and shared only a superficial resemblance with other saber-toothed mammals as a result of convergent evolution.

Recent methods, like Ercoli and Prevosti (2011) linear regressions on postcranial elements that directly support the body's weight (such as tibiae, humeri and ulnae), comparing Thylacosmilus to both extinct and modern carnivorans and metatherians, suggest that it weighed between 80 and 120 kilograms (180 and 260 lb), with one estimate suggesting up to 150 kg (330 lb), about the same size as a modern jaguar.

Thylacosmilus had large, saber-like canines. The roots of these canines grew throughout the animal's life, growing in an arc up the maxilla and above the orbits. Thylacosmilus teeth are in many aspects even more specialized than the teeth of other saber toothed predators. In these animals the predatory function of the "sabers" gave rise to a specialization of the general dentition, in which some teeth were reduced or lost. In Thylacosmilus the canines are relatively longer and more slender, relatively triangular in cross-section, in contrast with the oval shape of carnivorans' saber-like canines.

Its cervical vertebrae were very strong and to some extent resembled the vertebrae of Machairodontinae; also the cervical vertebrae have neural apophysis well developed, along with ventral apophysis in some cervicals, an element that is characteristic of other borhyaenoids. The lumbar vertebrae are short and more rigid than in Prothylacynus. The bones of the limbs, like the humerus and femur, are very robust, since they probably had to deal with larger forces than in the modern felids. The fur of Thylacosmilus is unknown due to the lack of fossil evidence, although it is most likely dense and short, appropriate for temperate and subtropical regions. The posture is probably a somewhat hunched gait, more basic than that of a big cat.

Abilities

Unlike big cats, Thylacosmilus lacked a powerful jaw-closing bite, but it possessed a powerful killing bite that was delivered with accuracy rather than force. Like Smilodon, Thylacosmilus probably utilized its neck and forelimb muscles to push its saber teeth into prey. Its shoulders and neck vertebrae were substantially constructed to produce a downward stabbing motion. Instead of pursuing prey, their muscular limbs imply that they could pin or grasp it. Thylacosmilus may have been an ambush predator, attacking from cover in scrubland or forests.

According to recent comparative biomechanical analysis, Thylacosmilus' bite force was estimated to be 38 newtons (8.5 lbf) at its maximum gape, which is significantly less than a leopard's bite force. This suggests that the jaw muscles of the animal played a minor role in dispatching its prey.

Compared to real cats, Thylacosmilus' eyes are positioned closer to the sides of the skull, allowing for greater vision but poorer binocular focus. For hunting, Thylacosmilus probably relied more on hearing and smell than on sight. Even among saber-toothed carnivores, Thylacosmilus' saber teeth were remarkable in that they continued to grow throughout life to compensate for wear or fracture.

Weather Phenomenon

Wildfire: ugh.

Ecology

Using landmarks in the skulls of several eutherian and metatherian meat-eating lineages, they compared the ecomorphological convergences in these groups. Metatherian lineages, including specialized forms as Thylacoleo and Thylacosmilus, showed values in morphospace more similar to caniniforms than felids, due that even the shortening of the skull and reduction of postcanine teeth are not so drastic as in felids, despite them often being compared to feliform eutherians. The study shows that in any case, metatherians could be so diverse in cranial diversity as its eutherian counterparts, even with very extreme forms as Thylacosmilus itself and that the metatherian development doesn't have any significative role in cranial evolution.

In South American ecosystems from the Late Miocene to the Pliocene, Thylacosmilus is an apex predator. They eat small notoungulates, large herbivores like toxodonts, and possibly baby ground sloths. They hunted by ambushing prey and restraining them with their muscular forelimbs and claws. They also delivered swift, deep stabs to the throat or soft underparts to cause deadly hemorrhaging. This marsupial's teeth were not designed to crush bones.

After the formation of the Isthmus of Panama during the Great American Biotic Interchange, placental carnivores, such as saber-toothed cats, lions, jaguars, and canids, began to compete with Thylacosmilus as the dominant predator in South America. This species vanished about 3 million years ago, most likely as a result of natural climate change decreasing its favored diet and competition from entering northern carnivores via North America.

Behavior

Because there is no indication of pack activity, Thylacosmilus's lifestyle is solitary, similar to that of most large predators. It probably relies more on ambush and stealth than on collaboration, and it is more ambush-oriented than pursuit-oriented. They may have been crepuscular or nocturnal, relying more on shelter and stealth than on quickness.

Like modern opossums or Tasmanian devils, they reproduce similarly to marsupials, with females probably having a pouch to carry immature offspring.

Although they are not inherently hostile to people, Thylacosmilus in the Earth Responsibly world can be dangerous if provoked, cornered, or starved. The circumstances, their surroundings, and whether they feel threatened all have a significant impact on how they behave. Although this metatherian is not naturally aggressive, it may become so in times of desperation or defense. Since Thylacosmilus lacked a powerful jaw-closing bite, it most likely used its neck and forelimb muscles to force its saber teeth into enemies or prey.

Distribution and Habitat

Thylacosmilus inhabited South America from the Late Miocene to Pliocene epochs, as lived only in the continent, which was isolated from other continents during most of its evolution until Great American Interchange. Remains of Thylacosmilus have been found primarily in Catamarca, Entre Ríos, and La Pampa Provinces in northern Argentina.

The habitat of Thylacosmilus included open forests, savannas, and grasslands with sporadic trees and scrub. They most likely favored river valleys and forest borders with ambush cover. Large herbivores like toxodonts, litopterns, and ground sloths coexisted with Thylacosmilus.

Movement Pattern: Random
Individual Type: Solo/Group
Population Trend: Stable
Population: 0
Locomotion: Terrestrial
Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Radiated Citadel; Lava Tube; Volcano; Lava Trench; Basalt Delta; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.
Earth:
- Extinct: Argentina; Brazil; Chile
Berbania:
- Extant & Introduced: Zowhringe
Reinachos:
- Extant & Introduced: Thrymr's Islands
Sawintir: ???