IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Ant¢n, M.; Siliceo, G.; Pastor, J.F.; Morales, J.; Salesa, M.J. | |
| The early evolution of the sabre-toothed felid killing bite: the significance of the cervical morphology of _Machairodus aphanistus_ (Carnivora: Felidae: Machairodontinae) | |
| 2020 Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (188): 319-342 | |
The study of cervical anatomy in the Miocene machairodontine felid _Machairodus aphanistus_ reveals the early stages of evolution of the sabre-toothed adaptations in the homotherin lineage. The cervical vertebrae of_ M. aphanistus_ show a surprising mosaic of features, combining a more primitive atlas than its derived relative _Homotherium_, with a set of elongated, caudal cervical vertebrae that display well-developed transverse processes with complex and strong muscle insertion areas. In spite of its primitive morphology, the atlas of _M. aphanistus_ does show a slight caudal projection of the atlas wings, indicating an emphasis on vertical motions of the cranial portion of the neck and skull. The rest of the cervical vertebrae of _M. aphanistus _show clear adaptations for strength, flexibility and precise control of neck motions compatible with the canine shear-bite model and comparable to those of _Homotherium_. Such a powerful and flexible neck could provide additional stability to partly compensate for the risk of canine breakage created by the less specialized adaptations of the skull and cranial cervical vertebrae for the machairodontine bite. |
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