Knowra Nimravidae Nimravidae Nimravidae is an extinct family of catlike carnivorous mammals that lived from the Eocene to the Miocene. Many species had enlarged saber-like canine teeth, but they were not true cats.
Carnivora : Carnivora is the mammalian order containing cats, dogs, bears, seals, and their extinct relatives. Nimravids are close to, but outside, the lineage of true cats within this broader order.
Nimravus : Nimravus is an extinct nimravid genus with elongated upper canine teeth and a relatively slender build. Its name is the source of the family name Nimravidae.
Carnassial : Carnassials are specialized cheek teeth that shear flesh in many carnivorous mammals. These cutting teeth formed part of the nimravid toolkit for processing prey.
Eocene : The Eocene is a geological epoch lasting from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago. Nimravids appear in the fossil record during this epoch.
Machairodontinae : Machairodontinae is an extinct subfamily of cats that includes many true saber-toothed felids. These true saber-toothed cats evolved their canines independently of nimravids.
Feliformia : Feliformia is the branch of Carnivora that includes cats, hyenas, mongooses, and related extinct groups. Nimravids are commonly placed among early feliform carnivorans.
Hoplophoneus : Hoplophoneus is an extinct North American nimravid genus known for prominent saber-like canines. Its fossils illustrate the family's striking canine specialization.
Sagittal crest : A sagittal crest is a ridge of bone along the skull that anchors jaw-closing muscles. Crest development in nimravids helps indicate variation in jaw-muscle attachment.
Oligocene : The Oligocene is a geological epoch lasting from about 33.9 to 23 million years ago. Many well-known nimravids lived during this interval.
Barbourofelidae : Barbourofelidae is an extinct family of carnivorous mammals with saber-like canines, related to feliforms. Barbourofelids are another non-felid group often confused with nimravids.
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