Occurrence of the sabretooth cat Smilodon populator (Felidae, Machairodontinae) in the Cuvieri cave, eastern Brazil

Abstract

The saber-toothed cat Smilodon populator, typical of the Pleistocene of South America, is known for its teeth, cranial bones, and post-cranial bones (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia, fibula, astragalus, and phalanges). A specimen found in the Cuvieri Cave in Brazil based on small bones (calcaneal, ectocuneiform, and phalanges) is described and commented here. The osteological material has a complete calcaneal and an ectocuneiform that adds data on S. populator. The specimen is comparable in size to that of an adult lioness and represented the largest predator in the region. The associated fauna and age obtained for the material were also discussed.

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