J. D. Yeakel bio photo

J. D. Yeakel

Associate professor at UC-Merced;
Former Omidyar Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute

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The 500-800 Kg oxyaenodont Sarkastodon by J.D. Yeakel (July 2023).

Here’s a wild (and loose) interpretation of the 500-800 Kg oxyaenodont Sarkastodon, an extinct placental mammalian carnivore (within the paraphyletic Creodonta). There doesn’t seem to be much known about this group, and most reconstructions I’ve seen are very giant-weasel-like. This is obviously more cat-like with weird mandrill shit going on on its face. Incorporated the spread digits, blunt canines, and large masticatory build - crunching bones wouldn’t seem to be much of an issue. But a lot of artistic license on some pretty partial fossils, so why not go wild?