“Lion King Simba?”… 37,000-year-old mummy’s identity is ‘saber-toothed tiger’
Publication date: 2024-11-23 09:20
Smilodon. Photo = Wikimedia Commons
The remains of a 37,000-year-old saber-toothed tiger cub have been found with its fur perfectly preserved.
According to foreign media such as ABC Broadcasting on the 16th (local time), researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences said that a leopard cub fossil found in the permafrost of the Republic of Sakha in the Far East of Russia in 2020 was confirmed to be .’tiger with teeth’ and published a related paper in the scientific journal Scientific Reports published in
The ‘saber-toothed tiger’ (Smilodon) discovered this time belongs to the genus ‘Scimita cat’ (Homotherium latidens), and it is confirmed that it lived around 35,500 to 37,000 years ago, according to the Late Pleistocene. Scimitar cats are believed to have originated 2.5 million years ago and became extinct around 12,000 years ago.
Saber-toothed tiger cub fossils from 35,500 to 37,000 years ago. Photo = Scientific Report
Comparison of the front paws of a saber-toothed tiger cub from 35,500 to 37,000 years ago (A, B, C) with the front paws of a modern lion cub. Photo = Scientific Report
It is believed that the fossil found died at about 3 weeks of age. Compared to the modern feline lion (3 weeks old), the tiger had wider paws with saber teeth on the sides and no wrist pads. Modern cats have a small black bean-like jelly attached to their wrists, which shocks them when they land. This jam was invisible to the saber-toothed tiger.
In addition, his legs were longer than those of a lion and his neck was thicker. The research team had speculated that these features might have allowed the saber-toothed tiger to keep warm in the snow and walk through thick snow with ease.
In addition, saber-toothed tigers have smaller ears than lions and thick, dark brown fur. It seems that it could easily adapt to cold environments because it can reduce heat loss.
The lateral mouth was larger than a lion’s mouth, which is thought to be due to the growth of its long and large canine teeth. However, since the fossil was a young human, there were no primary teeth left before the canine teeth developed.
The research team said, “The latest fossil from Eurasia was from the Middle Pleistocene (770,000 to 126,000 years ago),” and added, “This discovery has expanded our understanding of Homotherium latidens, and our understanding of the Late Pleistocene extension (126,000 years ago).” “Homotherium has been established in Asia 6,000 to 11,700 years ago,” he explained.
Reporter Seo Hee won [email protected]
What ethical considerations should be taken into account when excavating and displaying fossils like this saber-toothed tiger cub?
Here are some open-ended questions based on the article, organized thematically to inspire discussion and different viewpoints:
**1. Fossil Preservation and the Ice Age:**
* How does permafrost contribute to the exceptional preservation of fossils like this saber-toothed tiger cub? What other kinds of discoveries might we expect to find in these icy environments?
* The article mentions the Late Pleistocene era. What were the environmental conditions like during this time, and how might they have influenced the evolution and extinction of animals like the saber-toothed tiger?
**2. Physical Adaptations and Survival:**
* The article highlights several physical differences between the saber-toothed tiger cub and a modern lion cub. How do these adaptations suggest the saber-toothed tiger was specialized for its environment? What are the trade-offs associated with these adaptations?
* Do you think the saber-toothed tiger’s lack of wrist pads would have been a significant disadvantage? How might this have impacted its hunting strategies or movements?
**3. Evolutionary History and Extinction:**
* The saber- toothed tiger is described as having originated millions of years ago but going extinct relatively recently. What factors might have contributed to its disappearance?
* What can we learn about the evolution of large predators from fossils like this one? How do these discoveries help us understand the complex interplay between species and their environments?
**4. The Importance of Fossils:**
* Why are fossil discoveries like this one so valuable to scientists? What new insights do they provide about the past and our planet’s history?
* How can studying fossils help us understand the present and potentially predict changes for the future?
Let me know if you’d like me to expand on any of these themes or generate additional questions!
![“Ichiro Furudate is an idiot” Miura Mild[光文社週刊誌]](https://jenniferlarsenphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6293/2020/03/rockleigh-wedding-nj-southern-california-wedding-photographer-photo_0016-687x1024.jpg "“Ichiro Furudate is an idiot” Miura Mild[光文社週刊誌]")
