Body mass of a large-sized Homotheriini (Felidae, Machairodontinae) from the Late Pliocene-Middle Pleistocene in Southern Uruguay: Paleoecological implications

Sabertooth cats (Felidae, Machairodontinae) are of particular interest for science, and general audience. Because this morphotype is not present in current faunas, several aspects of their biology are still little known in some taxa. The main goal of this contribution is to estimate the body mass (by using regression equations formulated for extant carnivorous mammals), and also the potential prey mass, of the material assigned to the saber-tooth cat cf. Xenosmilus sp. (MNHN Coll. F. OLIVERAS 31561) of the Late Pliocene-Middle Pleistocene from southern Uruguay. The body mass estimations calculated for this felid are within the range of 347–410 kg (average value 378 kg); while the estimated body size of its typical prey was around 1100 kg, the maximum estimated prey size varies from approximately 1800 to 2500 kg. According to these results, several aspects related to the paleoecology of this felid, referred to predator-prey interactions and its potential impact in the community of large carnivores from the beginning of the Quaternary in a regional context in southern South America, are discussed.