The Ancient Cat-Beast: The Common Ancestor of Tigers, Lions, Dogs, and Bears, the Origin of Modern Carnivores

The Ancient Cat-Beast: The Common Ancestor of Tigers, Lions, Dogs, and Bears, the Origin of Modern Carnivores

When it comes to ancient animals, we often think of dinosaurs first. In recent decades, the world has been discussing why dinosaurs went extinct. Some people think it would be great if dinosaurs hadn't become extinct, so they could see this behemoth with their own eyes. In fact, if dinosaurs had not become extinct, there would be no humans. About 65 million years ago, with the extinction of dinosaurs, mammals gained an unprecedented opportunity for prosperity and development. About 50 million years ago, a omnivorous animal called the "Ancient Cat-Beast", also known as "Little Ancient Cat", appeared, which lived in trees. From the discovered fossils, the ancient cat-beast was slender with five fingers, and was about the same size as a honey badger today.

Although the name "Ancient Cat-Beast" includes the word "cat", it does not belong to the cat family, but is the common ancestor of tigers, lions, snow leopards and other cats. More surprisingly, it is not just the ancestor of feline animals, but the ancestor of all modern carnivores, including cats, bears, canids, hyenas, weasels, and so on. That is to say, tigers, wolves, hyenas, and honey badgers, all seemingly unrelated carnivores, share the same ancestor: the "Little Ancient Cat".

Evolutionary Journey from the Ancient Cat-Beast to Modern Carnivores

About 48 million years ago, the cat family and canid family separated from the Ancient Cat-Beast. The cat family eventually evolved into modern cats (representative animals include lions, tigers, and snow leopards), and the canid family eventually evolved into modern canids (representative animals include wolves, dogs, and African wild dogs).

During the long evolutionary process, cats and canids have undergone significant differences in size and habits. Cats are known for their agility, alertness, and ability to hunt small animals. They are relatively small, with long limbs, sharp claws, and keen senses and strong jumping abilities. Canids, on the other hand, are known for their group cooperation, ability to track and hunt large animals. They are larger in size, with stout limbs, sharp teeth, and developed sense of smell and stamina.

Although cats and canids differ greatly in morphology and habits, we can often see some characteristics of canids in cats, or some characteristics of cats in canids. For example, lions are often considered canids because they share similarities in habits and appearance with canids, but they are actually true cats.

Competition and Coexistence of Carnivores

Although cats, canids, hyenas, weasels, and so on, are all descendants of the same ancestor, they have been competing for food and territory, often fighting fiercely. For example, hyenas and wild dogs, lions and honey badgers, tigers and wolves often fight each other. Even different species within the same family often fight fiercely. The feelings between them seem to have faded away.

However, competition does not mean complete hostility. In the natural world, there is a delicate balance between carnivores. They will choose appropriate prey based on their own strength and environmental conditions to avoid excessive competition. For example, lions typically choose large prey, while leopards choose smaller prey, reducing direct competition between them.

Conclusion

As the common ancestor of modern carnivores, the Ancient Cat-Beast reveals the wonder and complexity of evolution in nature. The evolution of such a diverse range of carnivores from a small, omnivorous animal not only reflects the power of biological evolution, but also reflects the balance between competition and coexistence in nature.

By understanding the Ancient Cat-Beast, we can better understand the evolutionary history and biodiversity of modern carnivores, and have a sense of awe and respect for nature.

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