Paleontologists have been surprised to find the mummified body of a saber-toothed tiger cub (Homotherium hiding) of at least 35 thousand years old. This animal was in an excellent state of preservation, which allowed experts to discover details about this fascinating animal that has become extinct since the last Ice Age.
According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, The discovery of this puppy was made in 2020, on the banks of the Badyarikha River, in the Republic of Sakha, Yakutia. This discovery was thanks to a team of scientists from the Borissiak Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who They mentioned that it is the first time that the external appearance of an extinct mammal has been directly observed.
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According to experts, the cub died at three weeks old and, thanks to the fact that it was buried in permafrost (a layer of soil that remains frozen for years) for millennia, it was able to be preserved very well. The saber-toothed tiger cub still maintained its fur, claws and even whiskers, but due to its young age, it failed to develop the iconic long fangs that characterize this species.
This predator lived during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, it spread throughout Eurasia, Africa and America. But the discovery of this calf in Siberia shows that the species of saber-toothed tiger lived longer than previously believed, until approximately 10,000 years ago.
Additionally, the researchers compared this saber-toothed tiger cub to other modern lion cubs, but The saber-toothed tiger had some notable differences, such as a shorter snout, small ears, elongated limbs, a robust neck and dark fur. These characteristics indicate that This species was very well adapted to extreme cold, since its wide, padded legs, and the absence of carpal pads allowed it to conserve heat.
In addition, The robust neck allowed them to hold the fangs that they would develop in adulthood, which were tools for hunting, but were also a key part of competition between males during reproduction.
Another very different characteristic of modern lions is the design of their legs, since The fingers ended in sharp, curved claws, ideal for catching slippery prey. On the soles of their paws, experts found square pads instead of oval ones, which they believe is an adaptation that provided them with traction in the snow.
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