African 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

Zavrazhye Vulchae, or Broadhead Vulcae (Inostrancevia latifrons; Russian: Африканский Вулхай, Xhosa: Yomelelichqa, Zulu: Inchaqinila) 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.” 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.

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.

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.

Inostrancevia 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.

Inostrancevia 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 new fossil discovery in South Africa suggests that Inostrancevia migrated 11,300 km (7,000 miles) across Pangea, filling a gap in a faraway ecosystem that had lost its top predators, before going extinct itself. However, after studying its fossils the scientists realised that it wasn’t actually closely related to the South African species. Instead, its closest relatives were living over 11,000 kilometres away in what is now Russia.

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

This fourth species of Inostracevia is in the Karoo Basin, South Africa. According to the fossil record, the Upper Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone, from which I. africana is known, would have been a well-drained floodplain. The area preceding just before the Permian–Triassic extinction, this would explain why there is no more diversification of animals than in the older strata of the Balfour Formation.

Movement Pattern: Nomadic
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Stable
Population: 0
Locomotion: Terrestrial
Habitat: All
Earth: Lesotho; South Africa

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