What is purlovia?

Purlovia, also known as the "sabertooth mole”, is an extinct species of burrowing mammal that lived during the Pleistocene epoch, around 1.8 million to 12,000 years ago. It belonged to the family Thylacosmilidae, which includes other extinct saber-toothed predators.

Purlovia was a carnivorous animal with sharp, curved canine teeth that it used to hunt and kill its prey. It had a robust body and strong limbs for digging, with long claws that were well-adapted for burrowing underground. Its diet likely consisted of small mammals, reptiles, and other animals that it could ambush from its burrow.

Fossil evidence suggests that Purlovia lived in burrows and would wait for unsuspecting prey to pass by before striking. Its burrowing lifestyle provided protection from larger predators and helped it to surprise its prey.

Purlovia is believed to have gone extinct during the late Pleistocene, possibly due to changes in its environment or competition from other predators. Fossils of Purlovia have been found in South America, particularly in Argentina, where it roamed the open grasslands and forests of the region.