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Description

Wampus
Scientific name: Neosmilus uncia
Other names: Bearded leopard, Bearded cat, Saber-toothed leopard
Ancestor: South American cougar
Diet: Large vertebrates
Habitat and range: South-Antarctican mountains and tundras
The Crocotta isn't the only large hypercarnivore on Antarctica. As previously mentioned, Leucrottas range from the size of cougar to a tiger, the elusive Wampus sits roughly in the middle around the size of a jaguar; of the five subspecies of Luecrotta, three are bigger than the sole species of Wampus (Luecrottus carnifex varga is about the same size, so it's technically not "bigger" than the Wampus). Looking at this mighty cat, one might assume it belongs to the genus Panthera, or at least claims ancestry among those mighty felines, showing clear resemblance to snow leopards. However, they are actually a descendant of the cougars of South America. You see, cougars have the most expansive range in the Western Hemisphere, living from the Yukon to the Andes. Thing is, they are almost ALWAYS the SECOND top predator. Because of how successful generalists they are, they thrived during the Patagonian interchange. While jaguars were too specialist to steal a niche from the Crocottaforms, the cougar managed to find a place for itself on the southernmost continent. Living in the coldest parts of the continent, they hunt megafauna such as Pagos and Karkadanns, tearing at them with their most distinctive feature; their elongated canines. Elongated canines are an old tradition in carnivores occurring first in the mammalian-reptiles Gorgonopsids, then in the Metatherian Deltatheroids, third in the Metatherian Sparassodonts (specifically Thylacosmilus), fourth in the Machaeroides Creodonts, fifth and sixth in the catlike Nimravids and Barbourofelids, and most recent to the Pleistocene in the feline Machairodonts. This bit of background was brought in to show not only the commonality of a trait often attributed to the Smilodon alone, but its recurrence in felines and their relatives as well; indeed, the clouded leopard of the Holocene to shows the beginnings of this mighty and honorable feature, and many scientists are pushing to claim it as the eighth instance of the trait in mammalian carnivores. Asides from their canines, the Wampus also sports a cool grey coat, fancy spots, and a luxurious mustache used by males to attract females. If humans are any proof, the largest and fanciest mustache will always win the hearts of the ladies, much to the dismay of those unable to sport a such fabulous lip-warmer.

Description

Wampus
Scientific name: Neosmilus uncia
Other names: Bearded leopard, Bearded cat, Saber-toothed leopard
Ancestor: South American cougar
Diet: Large vertebrates
Habitat and range: South-Antarctican mountains and tundras
The Crocotta isn't the only large hypercarnivore on Antarctica. As previously mentioned, Leucrottas range from the size of cougar to a tiger, the elusive Wampus sits roughly in the middle around the size of a jaguar; of the five subspecies of Luecrotta, three are bigger than the sole species of Wampus (Luecrottus carnifex varga is about the same size, so it's technically not "bigger" than the Wampus). Looking at this mighty cat, one might assume it belongs to the genus Panthera, or at least claims ancestry among those mighty felines, showing clear resemblance to snow leopards. However, they are actually a descendant of the cougars of South America. You see, cougars have the most expansive range in the Western Hemisphere, living from the Yukon to the Andes. Thing is, they are almost ALWAYS the SECOND top predator. Because of how successful generalists they are, they thrived during the Patagonian interchange. While jaguars were too specialist to steal a niche from the Crocottaforms, the cougar managed to find a place for itself on the southernmost continent. Living in the coldest parts of the continent, they hunt megafauna such as Pagos and Karkadanns, tearing at them with their most distinctive feature; their elongated canines. Elongated canines are an old tradition in carnivores occurring first in the mammalian-reptiles Gorgonopsids, then in the Metatherian Deltatheroids, third in the Metatherian Sparassodonts (specifically Thylacosmilus), fourth in the Machaeroides Creodonts, fifth and sixth in the catlike Nimravids and Barbourofelids, and most recent to the Pleistocene in the feline Machairodonts. This bit of background was brought in to show not only the commonality of a trait often attributed to the Smilodon alone, but its recurrence in felines and their relatives as well; indeed, the clouded leopard of the Holocene to shows the beginnings of this mighty and honorable feature, and many scientists are pushing to claim it as the eighth instance of the trait in mammalian carnivores. Asides from their canines, the Wampus also sports a cool grey coat, fancy spots, and a luxurious mustache used by males to attract females. If humans are any proof, the largest and fanciest mustache will always win the hearts of the ladies, much to the dismay of those unable to sport a such fabulous lip-warmer.