Quercylurus

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Quercylurus
Temporal range: Early Oligocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: †Nimravidae
Subfamily: †Nimravinae
Genus: †Quercylurus
Species:
†Q. major
Binomial name
†Quercylurus major
Ginsburg 1979

Quercylurus major is an extinct, cat-like

strata in Quercy. Q. major was possibly the largest nimravid ever known, as its fossils suggest it was similar in size to the modern-day lion.[1]

Currently there is only one described species within this genus, the type species, Q. major. Q. major lived in the moist and humid forests of Oligocene Europe, alongside the much smaller, fellow nimravid Eofelis.

Description

Quercylurus is often considered one of the largest definitive

scansorial, using trees as both vantage spots, retreats, and points of ambush for hunting prey.[3]

As one of the largest predators in Europe during its existence, Quercylurus was almost certainly an

Machairodontini sabretoothed cats and Barbourofelidae. Because of its large build and dentition, Quercylurus likely preyed upon large herbivores, such as ungulate
mammals, by use of ambush tactics instead of cursorial, prolonged chases.

Taxonomy

Quercylurus was named by Ginsburg (1979), and initially assigned to Felidae by Carroll in 1988.[4] It would be placed as a member of Nimravidae, within the subfamily Nimravinae. Quercylurus was at one point classified as Nimravus intermedius major, and then classed within the Dinailurictis genus. More recent research typically places Quercylurus, Dinailurictis, and Eofelis as closely related, but distinct genera representing a European clade of nimravids.[5][1] Quercylurus and Dinailurictis in particular share many similarities, with size being the chief distinguishing factor in some research.[6]

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 86827900
    .
  2. PMID 34702935
    .
  3. ^ Jordi Agusti and Mauricio Anton: Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids 65 million years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe , Columbia University Press, 2002, pp.81-83
  4. ^ R. L. Carroll (1988). Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York. pp. 1–698.
  5. PMID 26893959
    .
  6. S2CID 202670809
    .


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