Acinonyx aicha
Acinonyx aicha is an extinct felid species belonging to the genus Acinonyx. It was first described in 1997 based on fossils from the Pliocene of Morocco.[1]
Discovery and naming
A.aicha was discovered in the Ahl al Oughlam site in Morocco, from the late Pliocene.[1] It is only known from the holotype AaO-1456 which is a complete and disfigured skull.[1] The specific name is derived from a cheetah called Ayesha from TinTin, specifically from The Red Sea Sharks[1]
Description
The cranial lacks a strong convexity compared to other species, such as the cheetah, and the zygomatic arch also suggest a normal temporal fossa.[1] The skull also includes a very concave glenoid cavity, which is limited by a string rim.[1] The upper teeth are longer than A.pardensis and longer relative to the width, and the anterior tubercle is much less developed compared to the posterior, especially compared to other species.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Geraads, D. (1997). "Carnivores du Pliocène terminalde Ahl al Oughlam (Casablanca, Maroc)" [Terminal Pliocene carnivores from Ahl al Oughlam (Casablanca, Morocco)]. Geobios (in French). 30 (1): 127–164. doi:10.1016/s0016-6995(97)80263-x.