3 New Specimens of Scimitar Tooth Cat (Homotherium latidens) Found in Siberia

The scimitar cat (Homotherium latidens) was a wide-ranging species that existed for over 20 million years. Fossil evidence of this species and its evolutionary ancestors dates to 12.5 million years ago, but genetic evidence suggests it diverged from its more famous relative, the saber-tooth cat (Smilodon fatalis), 22.5 million years ago. Despite being so similar, the 2 lineages of fanged cats diverged surprisingly early during the Miocene. Both belong to the Machairodonitae family, a subfamily of the Felidae. The Smilodon genus was restricted to North and South America. The Homotherium genus included the Holarctic species latidens and serum. The species that occurred in Africa and Eurasia is known as Homotherium latidens, and the species that ranged into North America is known as H. serum, but they are likely the same species. Genetic evidence suggests Homotherium occurred in low numbers but over a very wide geographical range. They co-occurred with Smilodon in North America, however…