Dentition Marsupial lion

skull of t. carnifex showing incisors , blade-like carnassial premolars

the marsupial lion highly specialised carnivore, reflected in dentition. other diprotodonts, possessed enlarged incisors on both upper (maxillae) , lower (mandibles) jaws. these teeth (the lower in particular) shaped more pointed canine teeth of animals such dogs , cats of kangaroos. unusual feature of creature s dentition huge, blade-like carnassial premolars on either side of jaws. top , bottom carnassials worked shears , have been effective @ slicing off chunks of flesh carcasses , cutting through bone.

the jaw muscle of marsupial lion exceptionally large size, giving extremely powerful bite. biometric calculations show, considering size, had strongest bite of known mammal, living or extinct; 101-kg individual have had bite comparable of 250-kg african lion. using 3d modeling based on x-ray computed tomography scans, marsupial lions found unable use prolonged, suffocating bite typical of living big cats. instead had extremely efficient , unique bite; incisors have been used stab @ , pierce flesh of prey while more specialised carnassials crushed windpipe, severed spinal cord, , lacerated major blood vessels such carotid artery , jugular vein. compared african lion may take 15 minutes kill large catch, marsupial lion kill large animal in less minute. skull specialized big game inefficient @ catching smaller animals, possibly contributed extinction.