The Anthropocene controversy | 64 comments (64 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Yes, Homo Sapiens (none / 1)

Since Smilodon Populator went extinct in South America before humans seem to have made it down to South America, its normally put down to the start of the interglacial and the greater dependence of the saber tooth cats than other large cat species on large prey.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sat May 14th, 2011 at 09:40:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Smilodon and humans (none / 1)

The arrival date of humans in South America is still unclear but it appears that there may very well have been some overlap between Smilodon populator (extinct circa 10,000 years BP) and humans. From Wiki:

The 14,000 BP immigration date maximum, however, has been challenged. Claims have been made for human presence in the 20,000-30,000 BP timeframe at Pennsylvania's Meadowcroft Rock Shelter and in California's Yuha Desert as well as sites in South America [re: Chile], Central America, and Mesoamerica.

Like many other sites, there are Mastodon bones present at Monte Verde. Smilodon may very well have been over-specialized and preyed only on big animials but then so do (did) we. Loss of habitat and loss of food also lead to extinction.

by Jace on Sun May 15th, 2011 at 11:44:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Smilodon and humans (none / 0)

And in any event, whether the Smilodon lost its prey directly to climate change or to the lazy fire-hunting of big game by early man, in either event at those population densities, the American cats that were able to survive on smaller game had no trouble surviving all the way up to the present human-induced mass extinction.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Mon May 16th, 2011 at 07:00:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Anthropocene controversy | 64 comments (64 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Top Diaries

Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup Squad selected

Integrating Ukraine Into NATO Family

Leinster's demise and Munster's hope

Southern Irish disinterest in Northern Ireland affairs

The end is Nigh?

Joe Biden. America's Interventionist Hero

Recent Diaries

NATO Stoltenberg Should Resign

NATO Posing the What If Question

Bi-Partisan Effort to Undermine Democracy

June 2023

Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup Squad selected

Integrating Ukraine Into NATO Family

Southern Irish disinterest in Northern Ireland affairs

Incident Ukrainian War Display Gets Int'l Attention

German Climate Activists Group Outlawed

Leinster's demise and Munster's hope

Joe Biden. America's Interventionist Hero

Targeted Assassinations: a Bankrupt Strategy

The end is Nigh?

Hijacking Peace by Zelensky for War Escalation

UA Drone Attack On Moscow

May 2023

US Provoked Conflict In Europe

U.S. Will Be Ousted From Middle-East

Settler Extremism Blessed by Jerusalem Leaders

Occasional Series