Ural 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 species 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.” The Ural River in Orenburg Oblast, where the taxon's holotype specimen was discovered, is referenced in the specific epithet uralensis.

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.

The species in Inostrancevia were the largest gorgonopsids known; known individuals have total body lengths reaching up to 3.5 m and long, narrow skulls up to 60 cm long. Like several other gorgonopsids, Inostrancevia was characterized by strongly developed canine teeth, with those of the upper jaw up to 15 cm long, the root corresponding to half its length. Their bodies were slender, with rather short legs. Inostrancevia shared its habitat with Scutosaurus, which it likely preyed upon. Their total body lengths, reaching up to 3.5 meters and long, narrow skulls up to 60 cm long, weighted around 250 kilograms.

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

Inostrancevia 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.

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.

Distribution and Habitat

The specific name "uralensis" refers to the Ural River, where the taxon's holotype specimen was discovered. However, because to the species' poor fossil preservation, Leonid Petrovich Tatarinov believes Inostrancevia uralensis belong to a new species of giant gorgonopsians. Inostrancevia uralensis lived on semi-arid floodplains, open woods, and river valleys. The climate is warm and seasonal, with wet and dry phases, comparable to modern savannas. In the past, the Ural Mountains' ecosystem had ferns, seed ferns, conifers, and early cycads. Inostrancevia uralensis shared its environment with Scutosaurus, Dicynodon, Placerias, and others.

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: Kazakhstan; 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