In Depth
As a barbourofelid Ginsburgsmilus is more popularly known as a ‘false sabre-toothed cat’ since the Barbourofelidae are not thought to related to modern cats of today beyond the fact that they are all members of the Carnivora. As such Ginsburgsmilus is related to other members of the Barbourofelidae such as Sansanosmilus, Prosansanosmilus, Afrosmilus and Barbourofelis amongst others. Ginsburgsmilus lived long before the true cats appeared on the landscape, but would have still filled a similar ecological niche to them.
Further Reading
Further reading- A new tribe, new genus and two new species of Barbourofelinae (Felidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) from the Early Miocene of East Africa and Spain. – Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences. 92 (01): 97–102. – J. Morales, M. J. Salesa, M. Pickford & D. Soria – 2001.