Ancient marsupial sabertooth had eyes like no other mammal predator.
Despite having eyes as wide-set as a cow’s and surprisingly long upper-canine teeth with roots tunneling deep into its skull, the “marsupial sabertooth” proved to be an effective carnivore, a new study finds.
This ferocious marsupial is an extinct mammal from South America scientifically known as Thylacosmilus atrox.
Scientists from Argentina and the United States examined computed tomography (CT) scans of the skulls of three of the large predators, which would have weighed roughly 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and went extinct about 3 million years ago.
The team noticed that the animal’s odd cranial anatomy stood out compared with other carnivores, such as dogs and cats, whose eyes are more forward-facing to help them track prey, according to the study published Tuesday (March 21) in the journal Communications Biology (opens in new tab).
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Foreign Marsupial Sabertooth had eyes like no Other mammal Predator despite having Isa's wide set as a cows and Surprisingly long upper canine teeth With roots tunneling deep into its skull The marsupial Sabertooth proved to Be an Effective Carnivor a new study finds This ferocious marsupial is an extinct Mammal from South America scientifically Known as thylacosmolysatrox scientists From Argentina and the United States Examine computed tomography CT scans of The skulls of three of the large Predators which would have weighed Roughly 220 pounds 100 kilograms and Went extinct about 3 million years ago The team noticed that the animal's odd Cranial Anatomy stood out compared with Other carnivores such as dogs and cats Whose eyes are more forward-facing to Help them track prey according to the Study published Tuesday March 21 in the Journal Communications biology opens a New tab to stay up to date with latest Top stories make sure to subscribe to This YouTube channel by clicking the Button Above This video what we expect For any carnivore is that their eye Sockets usually have very convergent Orbits meaning their vision is oriented Toward the front giving them good depth Perception said study lead author Charlene Gaylord opens a new tab a
Postgraduate student at the Argentine Institute of novology glaciology and Environmental Sciences I enigla and Mendoza Argentina when you're a predator You want to be able to locate your prey As accurately as possible Gaylord told Life science this accuracy occurs when The left and right fields of vision Overlap and send information to the Brain enabling the brain to interpret Depth and distances resulting in 3D Vision Gaylord said but the marsupial Sabertooths eye placement is more in Line with herbivores such as cows and Horses which see the world in 2D leading Scientists to wonder if this hyper Carnivore whose diet consisted of at Least 70 percent meat could see in 3D at All after examining the scans the Researchers discovered that the Beast Was able to compensate for its odd eye Placement by by sticking its orbits Outward and orienting them vertically Which helped it achieve a 70 degree Visual field overlap similar to that of A cat according to the study this was Enough to help make it a successful Predator Gaylord said so what caused Teatrox to evolve to have such wonky eye Positioning in the first place the Researchers said that's all thanks to Its staggeringly long canine teeth which Were ever growing throughout its Lifetime with the roots pushing further
Back into its skull over time this Displacement resulted in the animal's Unique wide set eyes since its canine Teeth were invasive to the dorsal front Part of the skull Gaylord said however The researchers are unclear of whether Or not its enormous Chompers offered any Benefits while hunting since there are Currently no other mammals that evolved To have a similar characteristic Including Kangaroos and other marsupials That are distant cousins of Tia trucks It was likely advantageous to have these Huge canine teeth Gaylord said and it Was even more advantageous to have them With regards to having better vision Foreign
