Scientists are rejoicing over the recent discovery of the first mummified saber-tooth cub in the history of paleontology.
A team of paleontologists discovered a frozen mummy cub in northeast Russia in 2020. The mummy was covered in "short, thick, soft, dark brown fur" and featured a well-preserved head, the front part of the body, incomplete pelvic bones, femur bones, and shin bones, according to a study published in "Scientific Reports" on Nov. 14.
The paleontologists determined the mummy is a part of the Homotherium genus - the scimitar-toothed cat family - based on comparisons to a lion cub carcass and skull. The scimitar-toothed cat is a part of the saber-toothed family.
The mummified cub features an unusually-shaped muzzle, large mouth, small ears, "massive neck," elongated forelimbs and dark coat color, according to the study. The cub also has two rows of whiskers on the upper lip and elongated hair that comes from the corners of the mouth.
"It's a fantastic feeling to see with your own eyes the life appearance of a real saber-toothed cat cub," study author Alexey Lopatin, who works for the Borissiak Paleontological Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences, told USA TODAY via email.
In addition to its other features, the cub's foot pads and claws were well-preserved. The front paws are about 2.4 inches in length and 2.3 inches in width (including the thumb), according to the study. As for the claws, they are sharp and strongly curved. The length of the thumb claw is about 1 centimeter.
The mummified cub, which would have been a carnivore, was found in the Upper Pleistocene permafrost on the Badyarikha River in Yakutia, Russia, the study states. Lopatin said the paleontologists who found the mummy were prospecting for mammoth tusks at the time.
The paleontologists determined the cub to be 35,000 to 37,000 years old - from the late Pleistocene epoch, more commonly known as the Ice Age, Lopatin said. The scientists used radiocarbon dating (the measurement of radioactive carbon-14) to determine the mummy's age.
As for next steps, Lopatin said scientists will conduct a DNA analysis and detailed studies of morphological and historical features in the skeleton, muscles, and hair.
Mummified felines are "super rare," Lopatin said, because of the requirements for preservation conditions. As big cats are top predators, there tend to be fewer of them in the local fauna than say, rodents.
The only other mummified remains of a saber-tooth cub skull were discovered in Friesenhahn Cave in Bexar County, Texas, in the 1950s, Lopatin said. All other saber-tooth cub remains are "very fragmentary," he added.
Members of the Homotherium genus were widespread through Eurasia, Africa and the Americas during the Plio-Pleistocene period (5 million years ago to 12,000 years ago). The largest number of Homotherium finds, according to the study, have been found in North America.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].