Possums are small animals that currently inhabit both North and South America. These harmless creatures are often displayed in zoos, however, their ancestor, which looked similar to a saber-toothed cat, would not likely agree to live in this place. The animal’s keen hearing compensated for its relatively poor eyesight, while the Thylacosmilus’s upper fangs continued to grow throughout its life.

Perhaps the animal’s unusual appearance sparked rumors that the formidable ancestor of possums could somehow survive until now. A similar creature is occasionally seen in Africa, South America, and even on the shore of the Sea of Azov.