Megantereon cultridens
The yellow prairie is quiet and still in this sunny and lazy summer afternoon.
Among the arid grass a spotted bulky figure is moving. It is a Megantereon cultridens, involved in processing the body of an eurasian zebra (Equus stenonis).
But the large sabretooth-cat is not alone.
Somebody’s approaching. It is a large Pachycrocuta brevirostris, alsno know as “Giant short-faced hyena”, a fierce predator.
The hyena is interested in the zebra carcass and attempts a sneaky attack, to steal the prey to the smaller felid.
But the Megantereon is determined to defend his property and snarls back to the hyena, rearing up on its legs, to appear larger.
The hyena backs off but, it could be just an apparent victory for Megantereon, the standoff has just begun.
A flock of Cinereous vultures started circling around, high in the sky, waiting their turn to join the party.
During the Late Pliocene, the french site known as Senèze, at the time was very similar to modern Ngorongoro, in Tanzania.
The fauna was really similar, and the situation that a casual observer could have attended must have been alike the one that take place every day in modern Africa.
Year: 2021
Client: Simone Zoccante / Diorama Nature
Software: Adobe Photoshop
Dimension (for Print): 50 x 50 cm @ 300 dpi
Dimension (in Pixel): 5906 x 5906 px
Illustration realized for @paleostock.
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If you are interested in using this image for your projects and works you can contact me and we can discuss about licensing.
All images Β© Simone Zoccante 2018-2023. Please do not reproduce without the expressed written consent of Simone Zoccante.