Amphimachairodus

[epaiva]

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Skull, musculature, and reconstructed head of the saber toothed felid Machairodus giganteus.
Although this species is widespread in many European sites of Turolian age, the best cranial remains actually come from China. The Chinese skulls show a greater machairodont specialization than seen in Machairodus aphanistus; the muzzle is more elongated, the mastoid region is projected inferiorly, and the coronoid process in the mandible is reduced, among other adaptations. All these features enabled the cat to open its jaws to around 90ª and efficiently bite the neck of large ungulates.
Total length of skull: 37 cm. Reply