Carnivores of the La Brea Tar Pits

[brobear]

tarpits.org/sites/default/files/2019-04/tar_pits_fossil_count.pdf 
 
The Carnivores (Comprise over 90% of our mammal fossils)

Saber-Toothed Cat: more than 2,000 individuals (second most common large animal here)

Dire Wolf: more than 4,000 individuals (most common large animal at the Tar Pits)

Coyote: at least 500 individuals

Giant Jaguar: at least 80 individuals

Short-Faced Bear: at least 30 individuals

Merriam’s Teratorn (not a mammal): over 100 individuals

 

[brobear]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fossil_species_in_the_La_Brea_Tar_Pits

1- Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus).
2- Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis).
3- Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata).
4- Western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis).
5- American badger (Taxidea taxus).
6- Raccoon (Procyon lotor).
7- Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus).
8- † Dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus).
9- Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris).
10- Gray wolf (Canis lupus).
11- † Pleistocene coyote (Canis latrans orcutti).
12- Bobcat (Lynx rufus).
13- Cougar (Puma concolor).
14- † American cheetah (Miracinonyx inexpectatus).
15- † Saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis).
16- † Scimitar-toothed cat (Homotherium serum).
17- † American lion (Panthera atrox).
18- † Pleistocene North American jaguar (Panthera onca augusta).
19- † Giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus).
20- American black bear (Ursus americanus).
21- Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis).
 
( Within some hidden corner of the internet, fossil numbers of each species is recorded ).

[OldGreenGrolar]

That is quite a number of animals.

[brobear]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Brea_Woman

Researchers estimate that the woman was about 18–25 years old when she died and was a height of about 4 feet, 8–10 inches (1.5 meters). Judging by her dental samples, scientists suggest she ate a diet of stone-ground meal. Her skull was fractured, which researchers infer was caused by a blow to the head, which may have killed her.

*So, La Brea Woman either had an accident and fell in or she was murdered and tossed in.
No other human remains have ever been found in the tar. Intelligence pays off. Fewer bears than other carnivores. I also consider intelligence as the key factor. Fewer atrox than other cats; again intelligence at work. ( IMO ).

[King Kodiak]

THE SMILODON FROM RANCHO LA BREA APPROXIMATED THE SIZE OF A MODERN AFRICAN LION BUT HAD VERY POWERFUL FORELIMBS:






books.google.com/books?id=KwYiAQAAMAAJ&q=Smilodon+popular+had+weak+forelimbs&dq=Smilodon+popular+had+weak+forelimbs&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiam-_x9MHvAhWOZs0KHVlpB0QQ6AEwAnoECAEQAw

[OldGreenGrolar]

The smilodon's relatively weak bite only enables it to stab and slash with these teeth. Its more powerful forelimbs enable it to grapple better than an African lion but it can't kill prey the same way.

[brobear]

Nov 11, 2018 18:09:51 GMT -5 brobear said:

La Brea tar pit casualties: nhm.org/site/research-collections/rancho-la-brea/about-rlb-mammals

Mammals at Rancho La Brea
Approximately 90% of the mammals excavated at Rancho La Brea are carnivores. This proportion is due to the nature of the asphalt seeps that form a carnivore trap. When a large herbivore became mired in the asphalt, it attracted predators and scavengers to the site and these in turn became trapped. Large carnivores are represented by the dog family (Canidae), the cat family (Felidae) and the bear family (Ursidae). The most common large carnivore is the dire wolf (Canis dirus). Small carnivores include weasels, badgers, and skunks (Mustelidae), the elusive ringtail and raccoon (Procyonidae). Other groups of animals include shrews, moles, bats, giant ground sloths, rabbits, rodents, mastodons, mammoths, horses, tapirs, peccaries, camels, deer, pronghorns, and bison. The ancient bison (Bison antiquus) is the most common large herbivore and is represented by at least 300 individuals, many of them young.

Canidae
Five species from the dog family are presently known from Rancho La Brea. The extinct dire wolf (Canis dirus), represented by over 200,000 specimens (~ 4,000+ individuals), is by far the most common large animal recovered. Dire wolves were widespread throughout North America during the Pleistocene and their remains have been found at many fossil localities. It appears that the Californian specimens were slightly smaller than the ones in the central and eastern United States. The timber wolf (C. lupus), coyote (C. latrans), domestic dog (C. familiaris), and the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) are still living today although the timber wolf no longer lives in Southern California.


Felidae
Six species of the cat family are known from Rancho La Brea. They comprise two main groups, the machairodonts (saber-toothed cats) and the true cats. The extinct saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis) is probably the most well known and is California's state fossil. At least 2,000 individuals of Smilodon are represented by over 130,000 specimens. The distantly related scimitar cat (Homotherium serum) is very rare and known only from a few teeth and several metapodials. The American lion (Panthera atrox) is the most common of the true cats with about 80 individuals recovered, two-thirds of which are males. Other cats include the puma (Felis concolor), the lynx (F. rufus), the jaguar (F. onca), and a domestic cat. It is possible that the American cheetah (Miracinonyx inexpectatus) was also in the area at the end of the Pleistocene although no specimen has yet been identified from Rancho La Brea.

Ursidae
Three species of bear are known from Rancho La Brea. The extinct giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus), represented by 30 plus individuals, is both the largest and most common species recovered. Thus far, at least 700 elements have been identified. The short-faced bear had an extensive North American distribution ranging from the Yukon to Texas. Its closest living relative is the spectacled bear that lives in the Andes. Possibly the largest predator of the Ice Age, the male short-faced bear may have weighed up to 1,800 pounds and stood five feet at the shoulder. Sexual dimorphism is very evident with females being at least 25 percent smaller than the males. The black bear (Ursus americanus) and the grizzly bear (U. arctos) are restricted to the younger deposits and are rare.

Quote: The black bear (Ursus americanus) and the grizzly bear (U. arctos) are restricted to the younger deposits and are rare.