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.