2022/11/23 by Qigao Jiangzuo, Shijie Li, Tao Deng · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
paper · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.105637
openalex publication_date 2022/11/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In contrast to large-scale convergence/parallelism, the small-scale convergence/parallelism of sabertooth adaptation within closely related genera and species has been seldom investigated. Here, we describe and analyze the rich material of Nimravides catocopis , and provide evidence using a new phylogenetic analysis that Nimravides was endemic to North America. The late Miocene (10.5–6.5 Ma) Nimravides represents a lineage that shows clearly parallelism with the contemporary Old World lineage of Machairodus–Amphimachairodus .The Old World lineage experienced a higher evolutionary rate of cranial trait than the New World one did. The low density of Amphimachairodus at its first appearance in North America suggests that the derived traits did not provide a direct competitive advantage over Nimravides , but allowed Amphimachairodus to survive the significant faunal change in the early–late Hemphillian (∼6.5 Ma) in North America, a process that probably can be applied to most replacement of closely related lineages.