ehetevoorus

Ehetevoorus is a clade of apex predators that lived during the late Eocene to early Oligocene epochs. The name "Ehetevoorus" is derived from the Greek words "echei," meaning "elsewhere" and "tevorous," implying powerful. Fossils of Ehetevoorus have been found in various regions of North America, primarily in western North America.

Physical characteristics of Ehetevoorus include a large body size, with estimates ranging from 10 to 15 feet in length. Its skull is characterized by a distinctive, flat cranium and short falanges on its forelimbs. Its teeth are specialized for meat consumption, with large, unserrated canines.

Ehetevoorus possessed a characteristic among early carnivorans - a tarsal reduction, where the calcaneus (heel bone) and talus (ankle bone) are undivided. Species of Ehetevoorus are generally divided into two groups: those with more terrestrial adaptations, such as a robust humerus, and those with adaptations more suggestive of arboreal habits, such as a highly curved forelimb.

Taxonomic classification places Ehetevoorus in the subfamily Nimravinae. Evolutionary relationships remain unclear, but Ehetevoorus appears to be closely related to other large, placental carnivores of the time period.

Fossil remains of Ehetevoorus display some level of preservation of skin impressions. These suggest a filter-like pattern on the surface of its skin, potentially aiding in insulation and possibly other sensory functions.

The diet of Ehetevoorus likely consisted of large ungulates, although this remains subject to interpretation.