Machairodus

''Machairodus'' (from , 'knife' and 'tooth') is a genus of large machairodont or ''saber-toothed cat'' that lived in Africa and Eurasia during the Middle to Late Miocene, from 12.5 million to 8.7 million years ago. It is the animal from which the subfamily Machairodontinae gets its name. The type species of the genus, ''M. aphanistus'', was comparable to tigers in size making it an apex predator of the ecosystems it inhabited. It is currently usually placed as one of the most basal members of the tribe Homotherini, and the ancestor of later members of the tribe.

History of research and taxonomy

''Machairodus'' was first named in 1832, by German Naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup. Though its remains had been known since 1824, it was believed by Georges Cuvier that the fossils had come from a species of bear, which he called ''Ursus cultridens'' (known today as ''Megantereon'') based on composite sample of teeth from different countries, species and geologic ages, leading to what would become a long series of complications. Kaup however, recognized the teeth as those of felids and promptly reclassified the existing specimens as ''Machairodus'', including ''M. cultridens'' in it. The name quickly gained acceptance and by the end of the 19th century, many species of felid or related feliform (such as nimravids) were lumped into the genus ''Machairodus'', including but not limited to '' Sansanosmilus'', ''Megantereon'', '' Paramachairodus'', '' Amphimachairodus'', '' Nimravides'', and ''Homotherium'' among others. This would eventually turn ''Machairodus'' into something of a wastebasket taxon, which would be rectified with the discoveries of more complete skeletons of other machairodonts.

*''Machairodus irtyschensis'' and ''Machairodus ischimicus'' were described in 1936.
*''Machairodus robinsoni'' was described in 1976. It was at one point referred to the genus '' Miomachairodus''.
*''Machairodus laskarevi'' was described in 1978.
*''Machairodus alberdiae'' was first described in 1981, and extensively compared and retained as valid in 2017.
*''Machairodus kurteni'' was described in 1991. It was later referred to the genus ''Amphimachairodus''.
Some of the most important fossils of ''Machairodus'' have come from the Cerro de los Batallones fossil site in Spain, which are filled caverns which predominantly carnivores became trapped within after entering probably looking for food or water, with the remains of the species ''Machairodus aphanistus'' representing roughtly 1/4 of all bones found at the Batallones-1 cavern at the site.

The fossil species assigned to the genus ''Machairodus'' were divided by Turner into two grades of evolutionary development, with ''M. aphanistus'' and the North American "''Nimravides''" ''catacopis'' representing the more primitive grade and ''M. coloradensis'' and ''M. giganteus'' representing the more derived grade. The characteristics of the more advanced grade include a relative elongation of the forearm and a shortening of the lumbar region of the spine to resemble that in living pantherine cats. Subsequently, the more derived forms were assigned a new genus, ''Amphimachairodus'', which includes ''M. coloradensis'', ''M. kurteni'', ''M. kabir'' and ''M. giganteus'' and recently ''M. horribilis''. In addition, ''M. catacopsis'' and ''M. lahayishupup'' was reclassified as ''N. catacopsis''.

Modern scholarship generally classifies ''Machairodus'' as one of the most basal members of the tribe Homotherini (with some authors retaining the name "Machairodontini" for the group). ''Machairodus'' is thought to be a paraphyletic evolutionary grade that is ancestral to ''Amphimachairodus'' (which is in turn ancestral to other homotheriines like ''Homotherium'').

''M. robinsoni'' is the earliest species within the genus, evolving during the late Middle Miocene, around 12.5 Ma in Tunisia, and is the only currently recognized species within the genus that inhabited Africa. The oldest occurrence of ''M. aphanistus'' within Vallès-Penedès Basin was 10.4 Ma. With the youngest occurrence within MN10 localities, 9.1 Ma. The chronostratigraphic range of ''M. aphanistus'' within the basin correlates with its chronological distribution across Europe. The genus was later succeeded by ''A. giganteus'' during the early Turolian in Europe.

Description

''M. aphanistus'' from the Mediterranean late Miocene was comparable to a tiger in size and skeletal proportions, with a mass of , with an average mass of . It was similar to the related '' Nimravides'' of North America. The skeleton also indicates that this species would have possessed good jumping abilities.

''M. alberdiae'' was contemporary with ''M. aphanistus'' in Cerro de los Batallones fossil deposits and was smaller and more primitive in anatomical features, and would not have exceeded .

Overall, the skull of ''Machairodus'' was noticeably narrow compared with the skulls of extant pantherine cats, and the orbits were relatively small. The canines were long, thin and flattened from side to side but broad from front to back like the blade of a knife, as in ''Homotherium''. The front and back edges of the canines were serrated when they first grew, but these serrations were worn down in the first few years of the animal's life.

Paleobiology

Predatory behavior

''Machairodus'' probably hunted as an ambush predator. Its legs were too short to sustain a long chase, so it most likely was a good jumper. Its teeth were rooted to its mouth and were as delicate as those in some related genera, unlike most saber-toothed cats and nimravids of the time, which often had extremely long canines which hung out of their mouths. The fangs of ''Machairodus'', however, were able to more easily fit in its mouth comfortably while being long and effective for hunting. Studies of ''Machairodus'' indicate that the cat relied predominantly on its neck muscles to make the killing bite applied to its victims. The cervical vertebrae show clear adaptations to making vertical motions in the neck and skull. There are also clear adaptations for precise movements, strength, and flexibility in the neck that show compatibility with the canine-shearing bite technique that machairodontine cats are believed to have performed. These adaptations are believed to have also been partial compensation in this primitive machairodont against the high percentage of canine breakages seen in the genus.

It is estimated that a ''M. aphanistus'' had a bite force of at the canines.

Pathology

''M. aphanistus'' fossils recovered from Batallones reveal a high percentage of tooth breakages, indicating that unlike later machairodonts, due to a lack of protruding incisors ''Machairodus'' often used its sabers to subdue prey in a manner similar to modern cats; this was a more risky strategy that virtually ensured that damage to their saber teeth often occurred. ''M. aphanistus'' fossils from Batallones displaying palaeopathologies also include a calcaneus displaying evidence of either a tumour or osteomyelitis, a third metacarpal displaying signs of osteosclerosis, and a mandible with an abscess in the mandibular body.

Social behavior

''M. aphanistus'' shows a high degree of sexual dimorphism similar to lions and leopards, with males being larger than females, suggesting an increase in competition and low tolerance among males. Their high levels of sexual dimorphism would also suggest territories of males did not overlap with each other. The authors concluded that due to solitary behavior being common among modern felids, ''M. aphanistus'' would be assumed to be a solitary animal as well. A 2024 paper on pathological analysis of ''M. aphanistus'' suggested that indication of survival of severe injuries, such as broken mandibles, could be evidence of some social structure. This was further supported based on modern day felids, as solitary felids with high levels of sexual dimorphism such as leopards typically die before severe injuries managed to heal, being unable to hunt for themselves or sustain themselves on carrion long-term. Lions, however, have a greater chance of survival, due to living in prides. Considering the high levels of sexual dimorphism in this species of ''Machairodus'', this would likely indicate higher levels of intolerance to other individuals within their territory. It was summarized that unlike lions, they would not have formed prides as they lived in wooded environments, unlike the open landscapes inhabited by lions. Instead, ''M. aphanistus'' would have formed coalitions of two or more individuals that protected a large area, including territories of multiple females.

Paleoecology

''M. aphanistus'' seemed to prefer open woodland habitat, as evidenced by finds at the Vallesian-aged Cerro de los Batallones. As a top predator at Batallones, it would have hunted large herbivores of the time. Large herbivores found at the Batallones site included horses like ''Hipparion'' (consumpution of ''Hipparion'' by ''Machairodus aphanistus'' is strongly supported by isotopic analysis of remains from Batallones), the hornless rhinoceros '' Aceratherium'', the giraffes '' Decennatherium'' and '' Birgerbohlinia'', the deer '' Euprox'' and ''Lucentia'', the antelopes ''Paleoreas'', ''Tragoportax'', '' Miotragocerus'' and '' Dorcatherium'', the “ gomphotherid” elephantoid ''Tetralophodon'', the porcupine '' Hystrix'', and the suid ''Microstonyx''. ''Machairodus'' would have competed for such prey with the amphicyonid '' Magericyon'', fellow machairodonts '' Promegantereon'' and '' Paramachairodus'', bears such as ''Agriotherium'' and ''Indarctos'', and the small hyaenid '' Protictitherium''. While ''Agriotherium'' and ''Magericyon'' would likely have been strongly competitive with ''Machairodus'' for food, ''Promegantereon'', ''Paramachairodus'' and ''Protictitherium'' likely were less potential rivals. Evidence also exists indicating that ''Machairodus'' may have been prone to niche partitioning with ''Magericyon'', possibly living in slightly different habitats, with the machairodont preferring more heavily vegetated habitats while the bear-dog hunted in the more open areas. Dietary preferences may also have played a role in the coexistence between these two large predators at Batallones.

This species was also found in Linxia Basin, which suggests they were present in East Asia during the Late Miocene. They would have coexisted with a number of other large carnivores including two unnamed species of agriotherine bears, the barbourofelid '' Albanosmilus'', fellow machairodont '' Amphimachairodus'', and the hyena '' Dinocrocuta.'' Given their different skull morphology, they would’ve practiced niche partitioning, with ''Machairodus'' being more adapted for forested areas compared to ''Amphimachairodous'', which was more adapted for open environments.

References

*

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q1274400, from2=Q4043537, from3=Q122231736, from4=Q106708388, from5=Q107398024

Neogene mammals of Africa
Neogene mammals of Asia
Machairodontinae
Miocene carnivorans
Miocene genus extinctions
Prehistoric carnivoran genera
Neogene mammals of Europe
Taxa named by Johann Jakob Kaup
Fossil taxa described in 1833