Broadhead Vulchae

Earth (Holocene): Extinct (EX) – IUCN Red List (real-life) / Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN Red List (alternative)
Reinachos: Least Concern (LC) – IUCN Red List

Earth Subpopulation

Reinachos Subpopulation

The Broadhead Vulcae (Inostrancevia latifrons; Russian: Завражье Вулхай) is an extinct genus of carnivorous therapsids, containing the largest members of the family Gorgonopsidae, predators characterized by long, saber-tooth-like canines.

Etymology

This creature was named after the Russian geologist Aleksandr Inostrantsev. Vulchae is the Anglicization and Latinization form of the Russian word: волк “volk”, which means “wolf.”

Physical Appearance

Inostrancevia had a large, compact, four-legged body with a large head and snout, and it possessed mammalian specializations, including differentiated (heterodont) tooth shape, a fully developed temporal fenestra, pillar-like rear legs, and ear bones. Their tough, leathery hide enabled them to endure several rounds of gunfire and even the vicious claws of a mythical or futuristic creature in all realms.

Represented by the remains of a large theriodont reptile with satire-toothed teeth. Therapsids are advanced carnivorous synapsids that resemble mammals, as evidenced by their gracile skeletons and diverse array of teeth. Although known from incomplete remains, the largest species, Inostrancevia latifrons, known from the Siberian Traps of North Asia, earning it the nickname the “Siberian Sabertooth”, is the largest Gorgonopsid species ever discovered, possessing a complete skull of 60 cm (24 in) for an estimated total size of 3.5m (11 ft.) long. Other more fragmentary fossils belonging to other species are also found.

Abilities

The massive fangs of Inostrancevia were utilized to stab and slash huge victims, probably targeting the soft tissues or neck. It possessed a strong bite because of the huge temporal holes in the skull for powerful jaw muscles. To make effective use of its saber teeth, the mouth could open to a nearly 90° angle.

Inostrancevia has agile, mammal-like movement because it can move more quickly and effectively than sprawling reptiles due to its semi-erect leg posture. It might be able to swiftly run short distances in order to ambush prey. Because of their enormous eye sockets, which indicate superior vision, Inostrancevia had keen senses. Its later mammalian relatives most likely inherited its keen sense of smell for tracking prey.

Inostrancevia may have possessed a somewhat warm-blooded physiology as a therapsid, which would have given it more energy efficiency and endurance than cold-blooded reptiles. Inostrancevia's massive body was designed to slam weak walls, such as plywood or ceramic plates, or closed doors.

Ecology

Similar to Inostrancevia alexandri, Inostrancevia latifrons inhabited semi-arid floodplains and open woodland habitats in Late Permian Russia. Large herbivores like Scutosaurus were fed by the ferns, seed ferns, cycads, and early conifers that formerly dominated the prehistoric regions of Russia. Predators like Inostrancevia were then aided by these. Inostrancevia latifrons is adapted to live on land in arid, open areas with sporadic woodlands. Inostrancevia latifrons preyed on large herbivores like the pareiasaur Scutosaurus and other synapsids, reptiles, and insects. Once Inostrancevia smelled blood from its prey, it would relentlessly track and pursue its prey at all costs. After hunting down and killing their prey, Inostrancevia sometimes stored it in trees to eat later, in a manner that mirrored the behavior displayed by modern-day leopards.

It was one of the largest carnivores of the Permian and would have filled the ecological niche that big cats fill today, like modern-day tigers and jaguars. It would have also been different from those cats because it would live in the type of environment that lions live in (only far more harsh), but it would have acted like a massive modern-day tiger in that it would have hunted alone. Inostrancevia would have been an extremely fast runner over long distances.

It would have been very territorial in that other predators, or Inostrancevia, were never welcome, similar to today's large carnivores. Its hunting method would have been to lie in wait for an unsuspecting prey item, then it would have bound after the creature, using its speed to run down the animal, then bite the neck until it died of blood loss, suffocation, or both. Then it would have eaten as much as it could. Due to its extremely harsh and arid environment, it would have been a dull color like grey or brown to blend in with the environment so it could sneak up on its prey.

Although certain therapsids were progressing toward live birth, Inostrancevia is most likely egg-laying. Although later therapsids displayed early mammalian characteristics, there is little indication of parental care.

Behavior

Inostrancevia were patient and implacable hunters who could gallop at a top speed of 43 km/h (26 mph) and had a strong sense of smell. Inostrancevia used stealth and brief bursts of speed as part of her hunting strategy. It was probably an ambush predator. Inostrancevia attacked with swift bites, causing deep wounds with its saber fangs. Like saber-toothed cats later did, it might have waited for the victim to become weak from blood loss before completing the murder.

Similar to contemporary big cats and their territories, Inostrancevia is a solitary hunter, and each individual probably dominated a wide hunting region, therefore there is no indication of pack hunting. To avoid the midday heat and capitalize on prey activity, Inostrancevia may be crepuscular, meaning it is active at dawn or dusk.

Inostrancevia are unfriendly, Permian-era prehistoric creatures that can pose a serious threat to humans. They are solitary, territorial apex predators of the late Paleozoic epoch that are strong and unpredictable, especially when they feel threatened or trapped, even though they usually avoid humans. When humans or other past or present creatures encroach on their territory or corner them, Inostrancevia turn hostile.

Distribution and Habitat

Of all the named species, only Inostrancevia latifrons was the only one recognized as a clearly distinct species within the genus, being based on skulls discovered within Arkhangelsk Oblast as well as a very incomplete skeleton from the village of Zavrazhye, located in Vladimir Oblast.

Inostrancevia latifrons and Inostrancevia alexandri both lived in semi-arid floodplains and open woodland settings in Late Permian Russia. The topography was characterized by seasonal dry and rainy seasons, rivers, and limited vegetation. Ferns, seed ferns, cycads, and early conifers dominated prehistoric Russia, supplying food for huge herbivores such as Scutosaurus. These in turn aided predators such as Inostrancevia. Unlike Mesozoic and Cenozoic climates, the Permian climate is warm to hot, often dry with seasonal rains, and resembles present African savanna. Inostrancevia latifrons lives a terrestrial lifestyle in open, dry areas with scattered woods.

Movement Pattern: Nomadic
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Stable
Population: 0
Locomotion: Terrestrial
Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; 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; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.
Earth:
- Extinct: Belarus; Poland; Russia; Ukraine

Tamed

Inostrancevia can be tamed via their babies with meat and milk.

Lore

It was one of the last top predators of the Permian period before the devastating Permian-Triassic mass extinction decimated ninety percent of life on Earth. All animals on planet Earth and Sawintir were the product of forced evolution, which was Inostrancevia created by gods, angels, elves, and fairies to produce a large, robust, and obedient workforce.

During fieldwork at the Nooitgedacht farm in the Karoo Basin of South Africa, under the direction of co-author Jennifer Botha from the University of the Witwatersrand, Nthaopa Ntheri and John Nyaphuli found two specimens of giant gorgonopsians. Christian F. Kammerer and his colleagues publish a revision in 2023, after the processing of the fossils, in which they unanticipatedly determine that these specimens belong to the genus Inostrancevia. This is a major first because the genus had only previously been documented in Russia.

Known Individuals

Past and Present Incidents Individuals

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The Recollections of Queen Arianna Individuals

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Gallery

Coming soon