Homotherium latidens (SciiFii)

The dirk-toothed cat (Homotherium latidens), also known as the Eurasian scimitar-toothed cat and the Eurasian scimitar cat, is a species of machairodontine saber-toothed cat that originally inhabited Eurasia during the Pliocene through the Pleistocene epochs (4 mya – 12,000 years ago), existing for approximately 4 million years, and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to the modern forests, open woodlands, and grasslands of Eurasia to help boost biodiversity. The dirk-toothed cat can grow to be about 1.1 meters (3 ft 7 in) at the shoulder and weigh 190 kg (420 lb), about the size of a male African lion. The dirk-toothed cat's incisors and lower canines form a powerful puncturing and gripping device; among the other cats, only the tiger (Panthera tigris) has such large incisors, which aid in lifting and carrying prey. It has the general appearance of a cat, but has a number of atypical features for a felid. It has unusual limb proportions, with longer, more robust forelimbs that gives it a hyena-like appearance. The hind quarters are rather squat with feet that are partially plantigrade, causing the back to slope towards the short tail. Features of the hind limbs allow this cat to be capable of leaping. The pelvic region, including the sacral vertebrae, is bear-like, as is the short tail composed of 13 vertebrae—about half the number of long-tailed cats'. The dirk-toothed cat has an unusually large, square nasal opening, similar to that of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), to allow faster oxygen intake, which is aided in rapid or extended running and in cooling the brain. Again similarly to the cheetah, the visual cortex in Homotherium's brain is large and complex, so the dirk-toothed cat relies heavily on vision during the hunt. The conservation status of the dirk-toothed cat is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the dirk-toothed cat's wide natural range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii