Xenosmilus
Sign in to saveXenosmilus (from Ancient Greek ξένος (xénos), meaning "strange", and σμίλη (smílē), meaning "knife, chisel") is an extinct genus of homotherin machairodontine felid (saber-toothed cat) that roamed the North America from the Early Pleistocene. The type species of the genus, X. hodsonae, is known from Early Pleistocene deposits in Florida.
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Discovery and Naming
- Classification
- Description
- Paleobiology
- Paleoenvironment
- References
Xenosmilus (from Ancient Greek ξένος (xénos), meaning "strange", and σμίλη (smílē), meaning "knife, chisel") is an extinct genus of homotherin machairodontine felid (saber-toothed cat) that roamed the North America from the Early Pleistocene. The type species of the genus, X. hodsonae, is known from Early Pleistocene deposits in Florida.
Over the recent years, scientists have proposed X. venezuelensis (formerly Homotherium venezuelensis) could be a valid species within the genus, in addition to a possible third unnamed species, cf. Xenosmilus sp., from Uruguay. If valid, both species would extend the genus' range into the Middle Pleistocene and South America.