Newly Discovered Sabertooth Cat Species Unearthed in South Africa

Two new species of saber-toothed cats, Dinofelis werdelini and Lokotunjailurus chimsamyae, have been discovered in South Africa, dating back around 5.2 million years. The findings challenge previous knowledge about these extinct feline creatures and provide insights into the environmental changes of the time. The discovery suggests that saber-toothed cats were more widespread than previously thought, and their habitat included both forests and open grasslands. This shift in ecosystems may have influenced the evolution of human ancestors, who emerged in Africa during this period. However, recent studies indicate that grasslands may have appeared much earlier, questioning the impact on hominin bipedalism.