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 Zavrazhye Vulchae, or 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

The 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

Inostrancevia turned hostile and possessed superhuman strength, even attempting to smash down a wall or door. Probably the most powerful force in Russia fighting the Bolsheviks and their factions.

Ecology

It 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.

The Salarevo formation in particular (a horizon where Inostrancevia hails from) was deposited in a seasonal, semi-arid to arid area with multiple shallow water lakes that were periodically flooded. The Paleoflora of much of European Russia at the time was dominated by a genus of Peltaspermaceaen, Tatarina, and other related genera, followed by ginkophytes and conifers. On the other hand, ferns were relatively rare, and sphenophytes were only locally present.

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.

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.

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

Inostrancevias 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