This week I have a genuine mystery object for you, found in an unmarked box in the depths of the Dead Zoo:
It’s not too tricky, but hopefully it’ll prove interesting to work out. Have fun!
Friday mystery object #523
Zygoma
Adventures in natural history collections
Zygoma 
One for the ailurophiles. It is all of one colour, could that be a clue?
So everyone instantly recognises this is a kitty, but with a cheek tooth row that is about 5 cm long it probably never went ‘meow’. So which big genus is it: the adulterous one, the german sports gear brand or the metal band? Upon reflection based on size and general gist of the shape I think it is the latter, hinted at by katedmonson. But which one ? I think it might be a bit small for the king or its stripy rival, so perhaps it is the sports car or the species famous for eating faces (or maybe even the very cold one), I confess I don’t know how to tell.
Meow.
I am Panting in anticipation on which kitty this is.
after further investigations… and comparing the anterior bend of the ramus below the coronoid process and the shapes and curves of the condyloid and angular processes…. and say: Hail to the King!
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mandibles-of-A-lion-Panthera-leo-NRM-595163-B-tiger-Panthera-tigris-NRM_fig5_249022988
Too small to be King. Even for a day. The coronoid process is too graceful, and the body of the mandible is too flat for the king. So… Pardus me to think that the ventral margin of the masseteric fossa is not as defined as a spotty one.
The entire jaw seems to be 15cm. So I am trying to Link something together that will be correct.
After a bit of comparison I’ve decided to settle my guess upon a spotted face-eater
Hello
I think it is a carvivorous, of course, but not so big …
Sheetah ? Ocelot ?
good day
It’s small for a big big cat, but big for an Ocelot and even a bit big for a Cheetah.
Soooo … Panthera … pardus ?
or Panthera leo … I thought Panthera leo was too big …
thanks for your answer !!
have a nice day