page_title: Barbourofelis
section_title: Growth and development
hierarchical_section_title: Barbourofelis / Growth and development
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Fossil of Barbourofelis, an extinct mammal - Took the picture at Museo di Paleontologia di Firenze
context_page_description: Barbourofelis is an extinct genus of large, predatory, feliform carnivoran mammals of the family Barbourofelidae. The genus was endemic to North America and Eurasia during the Miocene until its extinction during the Pliocene, living from as early as 17 until 7.3 Ma.
context_section_description: The skeletons of juvenile Barbourofelis have been found, and examination of their skeletons indicates that the cubs would reach near-adult size before their milk sabers would begin to erupt. This indicates that they were dependent on their mother or potential family group until well into their second year. Such a long period of dependence would have likely led to situations in which near-adult cubs would have likely helped to restrain prey while their mother made the kill. Such behavior potentially was a foundation for more extensive social ties in later feliformes and felids.
caption: B. fricki skull
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