The ancient marsupial from South America known scientifically as Thylacosmilus atrox had large, sharp dagger teeth. Photo/Live Science
Other carnivores, such as dogs and cats, usually have more forward-facing eyes to help track prey. However, according to research in the journal Communications Biology published on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Thylacosmilus atrox has wide eyes and tilts more to the side.
This fact became known to scientists from Argentina and the United States after examining three skulls of this huge predator, which weighed about 100 kilograms. From computed tomography (CT) scans, scientists learned that a predator that became extinct about 3 million years ago had a strange and prominent skull anatomy compared to other carnivores.
Thylacosmilus is known to have wider eyes due to the shape of the teeth that are too long with roots that penetrate deep into the skull. Despite having eyes as wide as a cow’s and very long upper canines, this sabretooth marsupial proved to be an effective carnivore.
“When you are a predator, you want to be able to find your prey as accurately as possible. This (wide eyes) is enough to help it become a successful predator,” said Charlene Gaillard, researcher from the Argentine Institute of Nivology, Glaciology, and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA) in Mendoza, Argentina, quoted by SINDOnews from the Live Science page, Thursday (23/3). /2023).
The eye shape of sabertooth marsupials, more closely related to herbivores like cows and horses, seeing the world in 2D, has scientists wondering. Can hypercarnivores, which eat 70% meat, be able to see in 3D.
After examining the scans, the researchers found that the animal was able to compensate for the odd placement of its eyes. They stick their orbits outward and orient them vertically.
This helps him achieve a visual field overlap of 70 degrees, similar to a cat. It is known that this accuracy occurs when the visual fields of the left and right eyes overlap and send information to the brain.
This shape allows the brain to interpret depth and distance by generating 3D vision. “This displacement resulted in wide eyes that are unique to the animal, as the canines push against the back (front) of the skull,” Gaillard said.
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