{{Short description|Extinct genus of carnivores}} {{About|the extinct saber-toothed cat Nimravides|the similarly named "false" saber-toothed cat|Nimravus}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = Late Miocene (Clarendonian to Hemphillian), {{Geological range|11|6.5}} {{period fossil range|Neogene|11|6.5}} | image = Nimravides AMNH.jpg | image_caption = ''N. catocopis'' skull, American Museum of Natural History | taxon = Nimravides | authority = Kitts 1958 | type_species = ''Nimravides thinobates'' | type_species_authority = (Macdonald, 1948) | subdivision_ranks = Other Species | subdivision = *''N. catocopis'' {{small|(Cope, 1887)}} *''N. pedionomus'' {{small|(MacDonald, 1948)}} *''N. hibbardi'' {{small|(Dalquest, 1969)}} *''N. galiani'' {{small|Baskin, 1981}} | synonyms = '''''N. catocopis''''' *''Machaerodus catacopsis'' {{small|Cope, 1887}} *''Machairodus catacopsis'' *''Nimravides catacopsis'' *''Nimravides catocopsis'' {{small|(misspelling)}} *''Machairodus lahayishupup'' {{small|Orcutt and Calede, 2021}} *''Nimravides catocopis lahayishupup'' '''''N. thinobates''''' *''Pseudaelurus thinobates'' {{small|MacDonald, 1948}} '''''N. pedionomus''''' *''Pseudaelurus pedionomus'' '''''N. hibbardi''''' *''Pseudaelurus hibbardi'' }}
'''''Nimravides''''' is a genus of extinct saber-toothed cats that was endemic in North America during the Late Miocene, from 11 to 6.5 Ma.<ref name="Jiangzuo2022" /> Despite its scientific name, ''Nimravides'' does not belong to the Nimravidae, but is a true cat belonging to the family Felidae.<ref>{{Cite work|author=Larry D.Martin |title=Felidae in Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America, Volume 1: Terrestrial Carnivores, Ungulates, Ungulatelike Mammals |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=1998}}</ref>
==Taxonomy== The genus ''Nimravides'' was originally described by Kitt in 1958 for the species ''"Pseudaelurus" thinobates''.<ref>{{Cite journal|jstor=1376145 |title=Nimravides, a New Genus of Felidae from the Pliocene of California, Texas and Oklahoma |last1=Kitts |first1=David B. |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |date=1958 |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=368–375 |doi=10.2307/1376145 }}</ref> In 1969, Dalquest described the species ''Pseudaelurus hibbardi''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dalquest |first1=W. W. |date=1969 |title=Pliocene carnivores of the Coffee Ranch (type Hemphill) local fauna |journal=Bulletin of the Texas Memorial Museum |volume=15 |pages=1–44 |url=https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/29938/tmm-bulletin-15.pdf?sequence=1}}</ref> The species ''Machaerodus catocopis'' was described by Cope in 1887, based on a partial mandible from the Loup Fork Beds.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cope |first1=Edward Drinker |author1-link=Edward Drinker Cope |date=1887 |title=A saber-tooth tiger from the Loup Fork Beds |journal=The American Naturalist |volume=21 |issue=11 |pages=1019–1020 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41520650#page/427/mode/1up}}</ref> The species ''Pseudaelurus thinobates'' and ''Pseudaelurus pedionomus'' were both described by James Reid MacDonald in 1948.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=MacDonald |first1=James Reid |date=1948 |title=The Pliocene carnivores of the Black Hawk Ranch |journal=University of California Publications, Bulletin of the Department of Geological Sciences |volume=28 |pages=53–80 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822023465388&view=1up&seq=69}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=MacDonald |first1=James Reid |date=1948 |title=A new species of ''Pseudaelurus'' from the lower Pliocene of Nebraska |journal=University of California Publications, Bulletin of the Department of Geological Sciences |volume=28 |pages=45–52 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822023465388&view=1up&seq=61}}</ref>
In 1975, Martin and Schultz reassigned ''Machairodus catacopsis'' to ''Nimravides'' and suggested that ''N. thinobates'' was a junior synonym of the former species.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Martin |first1=Larry D. |last2=Schultz |first2= C. Bertrand |date=1975 |title=Scimitar-toothed Cats, ''Machairodus'' and ''Nimravides'', from the Pliocene of Kansas and Nebraska |journal=Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum |volume=10 |url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumbulletin/107}}</ref> The species ''N. galiani'' was first described in 1981 based on fragmentary material from the Love Bone Beds in Florida. The same paper also described additional fossils of ''N. thinobates'' compared to the holotype of ''N. catacopsis'', and concluded that ''N. catacopsis'' was best considered a ''nomen vanum'' and the material assigned to it should be considered ''N. thinobates''.<ref name="Baskin1981">{{Cite journal|jstor=1380483 |title=Barbourofelis (Nimravidae) and Nimravides (Felidae), with a Description of Two New Species from the Late Miocene of Florida |last1=Baskin |first1=Jon A. |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |date=1981 |volume=62 |issue=1 |pages=122–139 |doi=10.2307/1380483 }}</ref>
''"Pseudaelurus" pedionomus'' was reassigned to ''Nimravides'' in 1990 by Beaumont.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Beaumont |first1=G. |date=1990 |title=Contribution à l'étude du genre Nimravides Kitts (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae). L'espèce N. pedionomus (Macdonald) |language=French |trans-title=Contribution to the study of the genus Nimravides Kitts (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae). The species ''N. pedionomus'' (Macdonald) |journal=Archives des Sciences, Genève |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=125–157 |doi=10.5169/seals-740122}}</ref> In 2003, Tom Rothwell reassigned ''Pseudaelurus hibbardi'' to ''Nimravides''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rothwell |first1=Tom |date=2003 |title=Phylogentic systematics of North American ''Pseudaelurus'' (Carnivora: Felidae) |journal=American Museum Novitates |issue=3403 |pages=1–64|doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2003)403<0001:PSONAP>2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=67753626 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/178177 }}</ref> And in 2010 it was suggested that ''N. hibbardi'' was a junior synonym of ''Adelphailurus kansensis''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hodnett|first1=John-Paul|date=2010|title= A Machairodont felid (Mammalia; Carnivora; Felidae) from the latest Hemphillian (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene) Bidahochi Formation, northeastern Arizona|journal= Paleobios|volume= 29|issue= 3|pages= |doi=10.5070/P9293021800|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4xr1s918|doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2013, Mauricio Anton ''et al.'' suggested that ''N. catacopsis'' should be re-reassigned back to ''Machairodus,'' regarding the taxonomic placement of the other species as uncertain.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|jstor=42568635 |title=Machairodont Adaptations and Affinities of the Holarctic Late Miocene Homotherin Machairodus (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae): The Case of Machairodus Catocopis Cope, 1887 |last1=Antón |first1=Mauricio |last2=Salesa |first2=Manuel J. |last3=Siliceo |first3=Gema |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |date=2013 |volume=33 |issue=5 |pages=1202–1213 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2013.760468 |bibcode=2013JVPal..33.1202A |s2cid=86067845 }}</ref> Jiangzuo ''et al.'' 2022 retained ''N. catocopis'' within ''Nimravides'', and in addition, reclassified ''M. lahayishupup'' to ''N. catocopis lahayishupup'', considering it as a local subspecies due to its dental difference being a intraspecific variation based on the large sample.<ref name="Jiangzuo2022">{{Cite journal |last1=Jiangzuo |first1=Qigao |last2=Li |first2=Shijie |last3=Deng |first3=Tao |date=2022 |title=Parallelism and lineage replacement of the late Miocene scimitar-toothed cats from the old and New World |journal=iScience |volume=25 |issue=12 |article-number=105637 |doi=10.1016/j.isci.2022.105637 |pmid=36505925 |pmc=9730133 |bibcode=2022iSci...25j5637J |url=https://www.cell.com/iscience/pdf/S2589-0042(22)01909-5.pdf}}</ref>
While often regarded as true sabertooth cat of the subfamily Machairodontinae, some authors have controversially argued that ''Nimravides'' is more closely related to Felinae than to Machairodontinae.<ref name=":3" />
==Description== [[File:Nimravides galiani FLMNH.jpg|left|thumb|Skull cast of ''N. galiani'', Florida Museum of Natural History]] ''Nimravides galiani'' is estimated to weigh {{convert|120|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} on average, according to Meachen 2012.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last=Meachen |first=J. A. |year=2012 |title=Morphological convergence of the prey-killing arsenal of sabertooth predators |journal=Paleobiology |volume=38 |issue=1 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261974255_Morphological_convergence_of_the_prey-killing_arsenal_of_sabertooth_predators |doi=10.2307/41432156}}</ref> Jiangzuo ''et al.'' 2022 suggested it didn't overlap with ''N. catocopis'' in size. Compared to ''N. catocopis'' and ''Machairodus aphantistus'', it had a much smaller sexual dimorphism due to the smaller infraspecific variation in size.<ref name="Jiangzuo2022" /> Many of its postcranial features resembles that of jaguars.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Baskin |first=Jon |date=December 2005 |title=Carnivora from the Late Miocene Love Bone Bed of Florida |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254281452_Carnivora_from_the_late_Miocene_Love_Bone_Bed_of_Florida |journal=Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History |volume=45 |issue=4}}</ref>
''N. thinobates,'' in a 2012 study, was estimated to weigh {{convert|115|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} on average.<ref name=":0" /> However, Jiangzuo ''et al.'' 2022 suggested it was actually similar in size to ''M. aphantistus'', which averaged around {{convert|153|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Jiangzuo2022" /><ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last1=Domingo |first1=Laura |last2=Domingo |first2=M. Soledad |last3=Koch |first3=Paul L. |last4=Alberdi |first4=M. Teresa |date=May 10, 2017 |title=Carnivoran resource and habitat use in the context of a Late Miocene faunal turnover episode |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pala.12296 |journal=Palaeontology |volume=60 |issue=4 |pages=461-483}}</ref>
''N. catocopis'' was the largest species, with adults measuring {{convert|100|cm|m|abbr=on}} at the shoulder and was similar in size to a large tiger. It was also possessed of long, powerful legs and a long back.<ref name=":1">{{cite book|last=Antón|first=Mauricio|title=Sabertooth|date=2013|publisher=University of Indiana Press|location=Bloomington, Indiana|isbn=978-0-253-01042-1|page=123}}</ref> Based on mandibular and dental sizes, this species was slightly larger than ''M. aphantistus'' on average. Hh2 populations of ''N. catocopis'' grew larger than Hh1 populations, this is supported by two large males, from the Ogallala group, having femurs that rivaled the femur length of the American lion.<ref name="Jiangzuo2022" /> The subspecies ''N. c. lahayishupup'' was also quite large. Based on 7 specimens, it is estimated that the subspecies averaged {{convert|274|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}, based on the size range of {{cvt|241|-|348|kg}}. A humerus bone measuring {{Convert|18|in|cm|abbr=on}} attributed to the subspecies suggest that this cat was far larger than a modern lion, which has a {{Convert|13|in|cm|abbr=on}} humerus, and is considered to be the largest specimen. This specimen is estimated to have weighed {{convert|427|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}, making this species among the largest felids to ever live.<ref name="link.springer.com">{{Cite journal |last1=Orcutt |first1=John D. |last2=Calede |first2=Jonathan J.M. |year=2021 |title=Quantitative Analyses of Feliform Humeri Reveal the Existence of a Very Large Cat in North America During the Miocene |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10914-021-09540-1 |journal=Journal of Mammalian Evolution |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=729–751 |doi=10.1007/s10914-021-09540-1 |s2cid=235541255|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==Paleobiology == Forelimb morphology suggests ''N. galiani'' was similar to that of extant felids, due to that it likely practiced strangulation method, relied heavily on its dew claw, and likely practiced pounce-pursuit. The authors suggest due to competition with other open plain carnivorans, it could've seek shelters among trees along forest boundaries or hide prey when under stress.<ref name=":12">{{cite thesis |last=Ormsby |first=Christianne |title=Morphology and Paleoecology of Nimravides galiani (Felidae) and Barbourofelis loveorum (Barbourofelidae) from the Late Miocene of Florida |date=May 2021 |degree=MS (Master of Science) |url=https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3902}}</ref>
''N. catocopis'' may have preferred prey weighing {{convert|413-1,386.3|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} with maximum prey size being {{convert|1.6|t|lbs|abbr=on}}, although it may not have been a large prey specialist.<ref name="link.springer.com2">{{Cite journal |last1=Orcutt |first1=John D. |last2=Calede |first2=Jonathan J.M. |year=2021 |title=Quantitative Analyses of Feliform Humeri Reveal the Existence of a Very Large Cat in North America During the Miocene |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10914-021-09540-1 |journal=Journal of Mammalian Evolution |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=729–751 |doi=10.1007/s10914-021-09540-1 |s2cid=235541255|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It is estimated that ''N. catocopis'' has a jaw gape of 67.91 degrees, with an effective gape of 38 degrees. Considering that, the effective gape is most vital when it comes to prey capture, the authors argued considering the fact that most predators had a jaw gape between 45 and 65 degrees, likely suggests not all saber tooth predators were large prey specialist.''<ref name="InoBite">{{cite journal |last1=Lautenschlager |first1=Stephan |last2=Figueirido |first2=Borja |last3=Cashmore |first3=Daniel D. |last4=Bendel |first4=Eva-Maria |last5=Stubbs |first5=Thomas L. |year=2020 |title=Morphological convergence obscures functional diversity in sabre-toothed carnivores |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B |volume=287 |issue=1935 |pages=1–10 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2020.1818 |issn=1471-2954 |pmc=7542828 |pmid=32993469 |doi-access=free}}</ref> <sup>Including supplementary materials</sup>''
== Paleoecology == ''N. galiani'' was found in the Love Bone Beds deposits (of Clarendonian Age), which had a mixture of grassland, riverine forest, and marshes, in which it would have shared territory with herbivorous animals like the amphibious rhinoceros ''Teleoceras'', the protoceratid ''Synthetoceras'', the camel ''Aepycamelus'', horses like ''Neohipparion'' and ''Nannippus'', and coexisting with barbourfelini ''Barbourofelis'' ''loveorum'' and borophaginae canids such as ''Epicyon'' and ''Borophagus.''<ref name=":1" /> ''B. loveorum'' and ''N. galiani'' likely niche partitioned and competition would've been minimal due to different prey and habitat preferences. The robust forelimbs of ''Barbourofelis'' suggests it preferred forested environments, while ''Nimravides'' preferred more open habitats, such as open grasslands. The larger sizes of the ''Nimravides'<nowiki />'' metacarpals, suggests it would've preyed upon larger animals compared to ''Barbourofelis.<ref name=":12" />''
''N. catocopis'' was found in Hemphillian rocks such as Chalk Hills Formation, Rattlesnake Formation, McKay Formation, and Ogallala Formation.<ref name="link.springer.com3">{{Cite journal |last1=Orcutt |first1=John D. |last2=Calede |first2=Jonathan J.M. |year=2021 |title=Quantitative Analyses of Feliform Humeri Reveal the Existence of a Very Large Cat in North America During the Miocene |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10914-021-09540-1 |journal=Journal of Mammalian Evolution |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=729–751 |doi=10.1007/s10914-021-09540-1 |s2cid=235541255|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Rattlesnake Formation was a floodplain environment where the Rattlesnake Ash Fall Tuff is present. It coexisted with herbivores such as the aceratheriinae rhino ''Teleoceras fossiger'', "shovel tusker" amebelodontidae ''Amebelodon'', extinct horse ''Pliohippus spectans,'' and extinct lamini ''Hemiauchenia vera''. Other carnivorans present in the formation was the agriotheriini bear ''Indarctos'' ''oregonensis'' and extinct fox ''Vulpes stenognathus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rattlesnake |url=https://www.nps.gov/joda/learn/nature/rattlesnake.htm |access-date=28 March 2021 |website=National Park Service |publisher=U. S. Department of the Interior}}</ref>''<ref>{{cite report |url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/99163/ |title=The Pliocene Rattlesnake Formation and fauna of eastern Oregon, with notes on the geology of the Rattlesnake and Mascall deposits. |last1=Merriam |first1=John C. |last2=Stock |first2=Chester |last3=Moody |first3=C. L. |date=1925 |pages=43–92 |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> Some of these herbivores, such as ''Teleoceras'' and ''Hemiauchenia'', may have been preyed upon by ''Nimravides''.<ref>{{cite web |author=David Nield |date=8 May 2021 |title=Newly Identified Species of Saber-Toothed Cat Was So Big It Hunted Rhinos in America |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-identify-a-giant-saber-toothed-cat-that-prowled-the-us-5-9-million-years-ago |access-date=9 May 2021 |work=ScienceAlert}}</ref>
Due to its initial rarity and different habitat preferences, Jiangzuo ''et al.'' suggested that the arrival of the fellow sabertooth cat ''Amphimachairodus'' into North America was not the direct cause of the extinction of ''Nimravides''; instead, they suggested that ''Nimravides'' became extinct as part of a climate change induced faunal turnover event during the Hemphillian stage.<ref name="Jiangzuo2022" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Machairodontinae}} {{Taxonbar|from1=Q646185|from2=Q122073749|from3=Q111041041|from4=Q111041029|from5=Q111041069|from6=Q111041238}}
Category:Homotherini Category:Miocene carnivorans Category:Prehistoric carnivoran genera Category:Miocene mammals of North America