The origins of the sabre-toothed felid model

A recent study on the functional anatomy of the forelimb of Promeganteron ogygia (Salesa et al., 2010) reveals that this primitive sabre-toothed felid had strong forelimbs and a short and very robust thumb, a combination that allowed it exerting relatively greater forces than the extant, similarly sized pantherins. These features can be clearly related to the evolution of the sabre-toothed cat hunting method, in which the rapid killing of prey was achieved with a precise canine shear-bite to the throat. In P. ogygia, the strong forelimbs and thumb were adapted to achieve the rapid immobilization of prey, thus decreasing the risk of injury and minimizing energy expenditure during the killing. Salesa et al. (2010) suggested that these were the major evolutionary pressures that led to the appearance of the sabre-toothed cat model from the primitive forms of the Middle Miocene, rather than the hunting of very large prey.

For further information:

-Salesa, M. J., Antón, M., Turner, A. & Morales, J. (2010). Functional anatomy of the forelimb in Promegantereon ogygia (Felidae, Machairodontinae, Smilodontini) from the Late Miocene of Spain and the origins of the sabre-toothed felid model. Journal of Anatomy, 216: 381-396.

Artwork by Mauricio Antón

A crippled Promegantereon

The image shows the foot bones (called metatarsals) of a Promegantereon ogygia from Batallones-1, which were broken and healed when the animal was alive (left), compared to those of a normal individual (right). The four metatarsals of this individual fused incorrectly and the animal was probably unable to run or hunt by itself for some considerable time after the injury, although it is clear that it fed after its accident, as it survived enough time to get its foot healed. It is known that chronically ill leopards (a solitary species) die before healing, whereas lions in similar circumstances often survive thanks to their social system. This is because leopards are totally intolerant to the presence of other individuals in their territories, whereas other species (such as lions or jaguars) develop different systems that allow the survival of ill or wounded adults in their territories. Thus, we suggested (Salesa et al., 2006) that P. ogygia developed some degree of tolerance between adults, as jaguars do, and that an injured individual could therefore feed on the carcasses left by the territory owner. Based on the size of the metatarsals, this crippled individual could have been a female that was tolerated by her mother, remaining in her territory and thus feeding on the remains left by her.

For further information:
Salesa, M. J., Antón, M., Turner, A. & Morales, J. (2006). Inferred behaviour and ecology of the primitive sabre-toothed cat Paramachairodus ogygia (Felidae, Machairodontinae) from the Late Miocene of Spain. Journal of Zoology, 268 (3): 243-254.