Last week on Fossil Friday, I challenged you with a real head-scratcher whose modern relatives are still chasing people around and cornering them in their homes!
What was this fearsome creature? A prehistoric cat, Pseudaelurus stouti. This fossil was found in modern day Nevada and dates to the Miocene, the Barstovian Stage to be exact.
From Brittanica:
"Barstovian Stage, [was the] uppermost major division of the Miocene Epoch (23 million to 5.3 million years ago) in North America...It was named for exposures studied near Barstow, Calif. The Barstovian contains a distinctive mammalian fauna."
This fellow sure was distinct! For some neat pictures of this species and others like it, check out this paper from the American Museum of Natural History.
Thanks to all those who played this week. My question for you: Should our next Fossil Friday be devoted to another toothed animal or a spineless creature from the Pleistocene?
