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The simbakubwa, a giant Miocene lion.

United Kingdom Spalea Offline
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Big discovery in Kenya: remains of a very big and old lion "The simbakubwa" dated of 23 millions years and weighing 1500 kilos :

https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2..._3244.html

I reproduce here the text, from "Le Monde" newspaper, in french:

Des dents et des fragments d’os vieux de 23 millions d’années ont permis d’identifier le Simbakubwa, sept fois plus gros qu’un lion adulte.

Des dents et des fragments d’os vieux de vingt-trois millions d’années découverts au Kenya ont permis d’identifier l’un des plus grands mammifères carnivores ayant foulé la Terre. Sept fois plus gros qu’un lion, pesant environ 1 500 kg et capable de s’attaquer à des animaux de la taille des éléphants et des hippopotames, l’inquiétant animal a été baptisé Simbakubwa kutokaafrika (pour « grand lion d’Afrique »). « Au vu de ses dents massives, Simbakubwa était un hypercarnivore », explique Matthew Borths de l’université Duke, auteur principal de l’étude publiée jeudi 18 avril dans le Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Les restes de l’animal – un morceau de mâchoire inférieure comportant une canine, une prémolaire et une molaire ainsi que d’autres dents et quelques os – avaient été découverts il y a des dizaines années, mais avaient été attribués à une espèce plus petite, Hyainailouros napakensis. Ils attendaient depuis au musée national de Nairobi.

Selon les chercheurs, l’animal est mort relativement jeune. Pourtant, sa mâchoire est beaucoup plus grosse que celle d’un lion de taille adulte. « Avec ses canines, il pouvait cisailler la chair, tandis que ses molaires lui permettaient de casser les os », précise un communiqué. Simbakubwa vivait au début du Miocène. Mais les conditions permettant l’existence de tels gabarits semblent avoir persisté pendant des millions d’années, précisent les chercheurs.

And I translate my best:

Teeth and remains of bones from 23 millions years allowed to identify the Simbakubwa, 7 times bigger than an adult lion.

Some teeth and fragments of bones from 23 millions years, discovered in Kenya, allowed to identify one of the biggest carnivore mammals having walked on the Earth. Seven times bigger than a lion, weighing around 1500 kilos and able to attack some hippo or elephant-sized-animals, the disturbing animal has been called Simbakubwa kutokaafrika ("big African lion"). According to its masive teeth, Simbakubwa was an hypercarnivore, explained Matthews Borths from the Duke university, main author of the study published Tuesday 18th April in the Vertebrate Paleontology newspaper.

The animal's remains - a piece of the lower jaw including a fang, a premolar and a molar as well as other teeth and a few bones discovered a few decades ago, but were attributed to a smaller specy, Hyainailouros napakensis. They were waiting since then at the national museum of Nairobi.

According to the searchers, the animal is dead relatively young. Yet its jaw is much bigger than an adult lion's one. "With its fangs, it could cut through the flesh, whereas its molars allowed it to break the bones", a press release stated. Simbakubwa lived during the beginning of the Miocene. But the conditions allowing such sized animals existence seem to have lasted during millions years, the searchers stated.
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The simbakubwa, a giant Miocene lion. - Spalea - 04-19-2019, 02:19 AM



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