7" False Saber-Toothed Cat (Hoplophoneus) Skull - South Dakota

This is very rare find from the White River Formation of South Dakota, a complete skull of the "false saber-tooth cat", Hoplophoneus primaevus. The skull measures 7" in length. It comes attached to a custom stand and base that the upper skull and mandible display on in an articulated fashion. If you require a different display, we can have one crafted at an additional cost.

Restoration in total is approximately 15-20% and includes the zygomatic arches on both sides. The anterior-most teeth (incisors) have all been restored on both the maxilla and mandible. A good amount of the premaxilla has also been restored. The right canine of the maxilla is partially complete, with the tip of the right tooth and most of the left canine being restored. The left canine and left 3rd premolar of the mandible have also been restored. Additional restoration can be found in spots through the left side of the mandible and to the left coronoid process.

Although resembling big cats,‭ Hoplophoneus and ‬Dinictis (the second primary cat of the White River Formation) are actually of the family Nimravidae,‭ ‬more popularly known as the‭ "false saber-toothed cats‭". ‬Like Smilodon which preceded them, these cats had very enlarged, saber-like canine teeth in their upper jaws. They are thought to have been ambush hunters which may have preyed upon primitive horses like Mesohippus and ruminant-like mammals like oreodonts.