Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Geosciences
Date of Award
5-2021
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Steven Wallace
Committee Members
Blaine Schubert, Joshua Samuels
Abstract
Saber-toothed remains have been found worldwide throughout the Cenozoic, until the end of the Pleistocene. One site from Alachua County, Florida preserves a diverse Miocene fauna, including the machairodontine Nimravides galiani (Felidae) and the saber-toothed Barbourofelis loveorum (Barbourofelidae). Both taxa roamed what would become the Love Bone Bed site during the Late Miocene (Late Clarendonian NALMA), ~ 9.5 Mya. Previous descriptions focused on crania; yet the large sample of postcrania remained undescribed. Hence, this project includes a detailed postcranial description of both taxa. Results show that N. galiani resembles extant felids, whereas B. loveorum resembles Smilodon fatalis, as well as ursids. Additionally, locomotion and hunting behavior (prey capture) was examined quantitatively to assess ecologic overlap (niche partitioning vs direct competition). N. galiani probably displayed terrestrial locomotion in open habitats, whereas B. loveorum likely inhabited the deciduous forest as an ambulatory opportunistic/ambush predator. Results support niche partitioning, rather than direct competition.
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Ormsby, Christianne, "Morphology and Paleoecology of Nimravides galiani (Felidae) and Barbourofelis loveorum (Barbourofelidae) from the Late Miocene of Florida" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3902. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3902
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.