Buzz
Long before humans ascended to the top of the food chain as hunters, the Felidae family, or cats, reigned as the world's most efficient and powerful predators. While today's big cats like tigers, lions, jaguars, and leopards continue to command awe and fear, their extinct ancestors were far more imposing. Here are ten of the largest and most mighty felids from prehistory, some of which roamed the Earth only a few thousand years ago, crossing paths with humans.
10. The Giant Cheetah
The Giant Cheetah (Acinonyx pardinensis) was a member of the same genus as the modern cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and likely shared a similar appearance, though it was significantly larger in size.
Weighing between 120-150 kgs (265-331 lbs), the Giant Cheetah was about the size of an African lioness and capable of hunting larger prey than its more fragile modern counterpart. Although the Giant Cheetah was built for speed, there is some debate about whether it could match the modern cheetah's running capabilities due to its heavier body, which may have slowed it down slightly.
On the other hand, some researchers argue that the Giant Cheetah, with its longer legs and larger heart and lungs, could have matched, or even exceeded, the speed of today's cheetahs, reaching over 115 kph (72 mph). The Giant Cheetah roamed Europe and Asia—from Germany and France to India and China—during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, eventually going extinct during the last Ice Age. Due to its colder habitat compared to modern cheetahs, it is believed that the Giant Cheetah may have had longer fur and possibly lighter fur color.
9. Xenosmilus
Xenosmilus, a close relative of the famous Smilodon (the 'saber-toothed tiger'), had shorter, thicker teeth compared to the long, sharp fangs of its relative. All of its teeth, not just the canines, featured serrated edges for slicing through flesh. These teeth resembled those of sharks or carnivorous dinosaurs more than those of today's felines.
Xenosmilus did not strangle its prey like modern-day cats. Instead, it would tear off a massive chunk of flesh from its victim and wait for it to bleed out. A Xenosmilus’s kill was far messier and bloodier than anything you might witness from a big cat at a zoo!
Xenosmilus was a colossal cat by today's standards, weighing between 180-230 kgs (397-507 lbs). Its size matched that of most adult male lions and tigers, but it was much sturdier, with shorter and stronger limbs, plus an exceptionally powerful neck. Fossilized remains of this cat have been found in Florida alongside those of giant prehistoric peccaries—its likely prey of choice. The Xenosmilus lived during the Pleistocene era, but the exact timing of its extinction remains a mystery. Whether it ever encountered (or hunted) humans is unknown.
8. The Giant Jaguar
While modern jaguars are relatively small compared to lions and tigers—typically weighing between 60-100 kgs (132-220 lbs), with the largest males from South America reaching about 150 kgs (330 lbs), roughly the size of an African lioness—the prehistoric jaguars of North and South America were giants. These massive felids belonged to the same species as today’s jaguars (Panthera onca), but they were far larger.
These massive jaguars also had longer limbs and tails compared to the ones we see today. Scientists speculate that ancient jaguars were once inhabitants of open plains. However, competition with American lions and other large felines forced them to adapt to denser, forested areas, where they developed the shorter-legged build characteristic of modern jaguars.
The giant prehistoric jaguars were roughly the same size as fully grown lions or tigers, but they were likely several times stronger, with a much more powerful bite.
There are two known subspecies of prehistoric giant jaguars: Panthera onca augusta from North America and Panthera onca messembrina from South America, also referred to as the Patagonian panther. Both species roamed the Earth during the Pleistocene period but became extinct around 11,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age.
7. The European Jaguar
Unlike the previously mentioned Giant Jaguar, the European Jaguar, or Panthera gombaszoegensis, was not part of the same species as today’s jaguars. Its exact appearance remains a mystery; some scientists believe it probably resembled a modern jaguar (hence the name), while others speculate it may have been a hybrid between a lion and a jaguar. A fossilized feline from Eastern Africa is said to share similarities with the European Jaguar, described as having 'tiger-like' features.
Regardless of its physical appearance, it is clear that the European Jaguar was an enormous predator, weighing up to 210 kgs (463 lbs) or more, and likely dominated the food chain in Europe 1.5 million years ago. Fossilized remains of this massive cat have been discovered in Germany, France, England, Spain, and the Netherlands.
6. The Cave Lion
The Cave Lion was a colossal subspecies of lion, reaching weights of up to 300 kgs (661 lbs) or more, making it as large as the Amur or Siberian tiger, the largest living cat today.
The Cave Lion was one of the most fearsome and dominant predators during the last Ice Age in Europe. Evidence suggests it was not only feared by early humans but possibly even revered or worshipped. Numerous cave paintings and a few statuettes have been found depicting this creature, often showing it without a mane or with only a small ruff around the neck, similar to the modern-day tiger.
Interestingly, some cave paintings depict the Cave Lion with faint stripes along its legs and tail. This has led some scientists to propose that the Cave Lion might have been more closely related to tigers. However, genetic analysis of ancient bones has confirmed that, despite its unique appearance in artwork, the Cave Lion was indeed a true lion.
5. Homotherium
Also known as the 'Scimitar cat,' Homotherium was one of the most successful and widespread felines of prehistoric times. It roamed across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, adapting to various environments, including the sub-Arctic tundra. It survived for an impressive five million years before becoming extinct around 10,000 years ago.
Homotherium likely hunted in packs and was built for speed, being primarily active during the day to avoid competition with other nocturnal predators. Its long forelegs and shorter hind legs gave it a hyena-like appearance. While not typically noted for its size, fossil evidence from a Scimitar cat discovered in the North Sea suggests that some individuals could weigh as much as 400 kgs (882 lbs), making them larger than today's Siberian tigers.
If you're curious about the diet of these enormous, pack-hunting predators, some paleontologists believe they were skilled at hunting mammoths. But their impressive running speed would have also enabled them to pursue other fast-moving prey.
4. Machairodus kabir
Although Smilodon is famous as the classic 'sabertooth tiger,' its short tail and distinct body proportions made it quite different from the modern tiger.
Machairodus, in contrast, likely resembled a gigantic tiger with saber-like teeth; it had the typical proportions of a tiger and a long tail, though it’s uncertain whether it had any distinctive fur markings, like stripes or spots.
Machairodus is not often highlighted as a giant feline, but fossil evidence discovered in Chad, Africa, and classified as a new species, Machairodus kabir, suggests that this cat was among the largest ever, weighing up to 490 kgs (1080 lbs) or possibly even 500 kgs (1102 lbs), about the size of a horse. It likely preyed on elephants, rhinos, and other large herbivores that were plentiful at the time.
Machairodus kabir likely resembled the colossal 'sabertooth tiger' featured in the movie 10,000 B.C., although it unfortunately went extinct during the Miocene period, long before humans ever appeared.
3. Simbakubwa kutokaafrika
Although Smilodon and other felines on this list are more well-known, a new species identified in 2019 now holds the title as the largest prehistoric cat (sorry, Smilodon!). Initially, based on the size of the jaw and teeth, the fossil remains were thought to belong to a great ape.
Far larger than a tiger, lion, or polar bear, with a skull comparable to that of a rhinoceros, this ancient predator known as Simbakubwa kutokaafrika wasn’t unearthed in the field but rather discovered in a long-forgotten museum drawer. Two paleontologists from Ohio University found this new species at the National Museums of Kenya. According to an Ohio University press release, the fossils had previously been excavated in Kenya but hadn’t received much attention. These large cats lived in Africa and were likely solitary hunters.
Simbakubwa kutokaafrika, meaning ‘big lion from Africa’ in Swahili, belongs to a long-extinct group of massive carnivores called Hyainailourine hyaenodonts, which roamed the Earth around 22 million years ago. Despite the name, this creature wasn’t a lion nor related to modern cats. It was part of a group of mammals with teeth resembling those of a hyena, though they are not related.
With its enormous teeth, scientists estimate that this giant cat weighed around 1,308 kgs (1,888 lbs). To put that into perspective, modern adult lions and tigers typically weigh about 180 kg (400 lbs). This cat also had a powerful jaw and razor-sharp teeth. In addition to its large front canines, Simbakubwa had three pairs of meat-slicing teeth at the back—unlike modern carnivores like lions, domestic cats, raccoons, and wolves, which have only one pair.
2. Smilodon
The iconic 'sabertooth tiger,' Smilodon, is one of the most well-known prehistoric predators and remains among the most fearsome.
At least three species of Smilodon roamed North and South America. The smallest species, Smilodon gracilis, was roughly the size of a modern jaguar, while Smilodon fatalis was as large as a lion.
However, the South American species, Smilodon populator, was far larger than the others, weighing an average of 300 kgs (661 lbs) and potentially reaching up to 500 kgs (1102 lbs) when fully grown!
Although not as nimble as today's big cats, Smilodon was incredibly strong, with more muscular limbs and a thicker neck than modern felines, as well as exceptionally long claws designed for gripping prey. Its fangs, measuring up to 30 cm (12 inches), were perfect for delivering fatal wounds to mammoths, ground sloths, and any large animals unlucky enough to be ambushed by this formidable predator.
Smilodon went extinct around 10,000 years ago, meaning it coexisted with humans and likely hunted them on occasion. Remarkably, Smilodon is the only known prehistoric cat responsible for the extinction of an entire species, which was the saber-toothed marsupial or its close relative, Thylacosmilus.
This fearsome creature ruled South America for millions of years until the sea levels dropped, allowing North America to connect with South America.
Smilodon, originally from North America, made its way into South America around 2 million years ago. Almost immediately, Thylacosmilus vanished, likely outcompeted and possibly hunted to extinction by the Smilodon. In essence, Smilodon essentially took over an entire continent, driving its less adaptable competitors to extinction.
1. American Lion
Often regarded as the largest cat in history, the American lion, or Panthera atrox, is likely the most famous of all prehistoric felines after Smilodon.
The American Lion roamed both North and South America, from Alaska to Peru, during the Pleistocene epoch. It went extinct 11,000 years ago at the close of the last Ice Age. Most scientists agree that the American Lion was a massive relative of modern lions, potentially even part of the same species (in which case its scientific name would be Panthera leo atrox).
However, there are those who question this and propose that the American Lion, while closely related to the lion, might have been a distinct species. Some even speculate that it may have resembled the jaguar more than its modern-day lion cousin.
One thing is clear: the American Lion was the largest feline in North America during the Ice Age, weighing as much as 470 kgs (1036 lbs), and possibly up to 500 kgs (1102 lbs). It was capable of taking down very large prey. Although some debate its hunting methods, the scarcity of American Lion remains suggests these cats may have hunted alone, in contrast to the social behavior of modern lions.
This theory aligns with the idea that the North American Smilodon fatalis, a species of sabertooth, was likely a pack hunter. By hunting alone and targeting different animals, the American Lion may have avoided direct competition with the sabertooth, which could explain why both cats thrived alongside each other for so long.
