In Depth Further Reading – Pleistocene remains of the lion-like cat (Panthera atrox) from the Yukon Territory and northern Alaska – Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 6(5) C. R. Harrington – 1969. – Mandibular and dental abnormalities of two Pleistocene American lions (Panthera leo atrox) from Yukon Territory. – B. F. Beebe & T. J. … Read more
In Depth Although Afrosmilus superficially looks like an African big cat, it is actually a barbourfelid, a group of mammals that appeared before the big cats of the Felidae. However exactly how close barbourofelids are to true cats is actually a matter of debate amongst palaeontologists with some claiming that they are not related at … Read more
In Depth A relative of other primitive whales such as Dorudon and Zygorhiza, Ancalecetus would have been a toothed predatory whale that hunted other marine organisms for food. In fact, Ancalecetus is seen to be very similar to Dorudon atrox with the exception of the fore limbs of Ancalecetus being much smaller and closer to … Read more
In Depth Although not the largest of prehistoric elephants, Anancus stands out from the crowd with its greatly elongated tusks which could reach lengths of up to four meters, almost as long as the body. These tusks which were like in all elephants modified teeth, are thought to have been used to root up plants … Read more
In Depth One of the better known bears in the worlds fossil record, the Agriotherium genus is also easily one of the largest currently known. With this large size it would be tempting to portray Agriotherium as a savage killers of any animal that might be unfortunate enough to be in its way, yet like … Read more
In Depth Arsinoitherium fossils were first found in the Faiyum area of Egypt, and to date these fossils are the best preserved with some specimens being almost complete. Arsinoitherium now seems to have been spread further across Africa as well as parts of the Middle East, while fossil material from Europe and Asia has revealed … Read more
In Depth Aulophyseter was a predatory whale similar to a modern day sperm whale, although it probably had a more diverse diet. Aulophyseter was related to other predatory whales such as Acrophyseter and the large Livyatan. Some Aulophyseter however bear a resemblance to another whale called Orycterocetus raising the possibility that these fossils could be … Read more
In Depth Although usually regarded as its own genus, there is on-going debate over how Aegyptopithecus might actually be the same primate as Propliopithecus. If this eventually does happen then material that has been named Aegyptopithecus will be re-named Propliopithecus. Aegyptopithecus is thought to have been a frugivore, a herbivorous creature that specialises in eating … Read more
In Depth Unfortunately still only known from very incomplete remains, Ashorocetus was an early baleen whale. Relatives of Ashorocetus include Aetiocetus and Willungacetus. Further Reading - Classification and distribution of Oligocene Aetiocetidae (Mammalia; Cetacea; Mysticeti) from western North America and Japan - L. G. Barnes, M. Kimura, H. Furusawa & H. Sawamura - 1995.
In Depth Acinacodus was a genus of triconodont mammal from the early Cretaceous of Russia. The triconodonts were small mammals lived in a world dominated by the dinosaurs, and were likely hunted by some of them. Further Reading - A new genus of triconodont mammals from the Early Cretaceous of Western Siberia - A. V. … Read more