Ginsburgsmilus

Gins-burg-smy-luss.
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Emerson Winslow

Paleoichthyologist

Emerson Winslow delves into the underwater world of prehistoric fish, uncovering the mysteries of early marine life. His discoveries have enhanced understanding of vertebrate evolution in aquatic environments.

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Name

Ginsburgsmilus ‭(‬Ginsburg knife‭)‬.

Phonetic

Gins-burg-smy-luss.

Named By

Morales et al‭ ‬-‭ ‬2001.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Carnivora,‭ ‬Feliformia,‭ ‬Barbourofelidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

G.‭ ‬napakensis‭

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

Africa.

Time Period

Burdigalian of the Miocene.

Fossil representation

Single specimen.

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.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT