ERIYTHRISTIC MEGANTEREON | 𝘔𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴

Erythrism, also known as “rufism,” especially when applied to individuals, is a particular type of pigmentation caused by a genetic mutation.

In this mutation, the black pigment is replaced by a red pigment (the term “erythros” indeed derives from the Greek word for red).

Erythrism is present, although certainly not common, in some species of modern wild felids. This phenomenon has been observed in Tigers (both in captivity and in the wild), Asian Leopard Cats, but especially in Leopards.

The leopard, in particular, is one of the wild felids that has frequently shown this mutation in nature. In a protected area in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, 28 “red” leopards were documented using camera traps—a relatively high number of mutant individuals in the wild. This suggests that, unlike other mutations such as albinism, erythrism does not significantly compromise the survival of a predator like the leopard in nature.

Inspired by the “red” leopards of South Africa, I have created this erythristic specimen of Megantereon cultridens. Megantereon is often compared to the leopard, and it is believed that the two may have had comparable lifestyles.

The scene is set in central Italy, in early Pleistocene Tuscany.

Megantereon cultridens was a rather widespread species during that time and in those areas.

In the piece, a Little Owl (Athene sp.) is also visible. The Mediterranean region during the transition between the Pliocene and Pleistocene was a place where various species of owls were present. In addition to the gigantic and terrestrial Athene cretensis, central Mediterranean hosted A. trinacriae (found in Sicily) and A. angelis (discovered in Corsica). Our Athene noctua, however, dates back to the middle Pleistocene.