10 Types of Prehistoric Cats

1. Smilodon

Smilodon is one of the most famous prehistoric predators, and also one of the most formidable. There are at least three species live in North and South America; the smallest species, Smilodon gracilis, the size of the modern jaguar, while the lion of Smilodon fatalis.

However, the species Smilodon Populator weighs 300 kilograms (661 pounds) and an average of up to 500 kg (1102 pounds) when adult! Smilodon was not so agile as modern cats, but he is very strong, with strong legs are also thick neck, and especially long nails to grip their prey. its fangs can reach 30 cm (12 ") in length, and perfect for causing a fatal injury ground squirrels, large animals, and even mammoths!

2. Pleistocene tiger

Pleistocene tiger is an "early version" of the same tiger that we see today. Tigers evolved somewhere in Asia about 2 million years ago, specifically to prey on a variety of large herbivores that live on the continent at that time. The tiger is the largest cat today, with great Bengal and Siberian males weighing up to 300 kg (661 pounds) or more. However, during the Pleistocene era, a greater food supply, so the tiger itself is larger, weighing 490 kg (£ 1,080)

3. American lion

Or American lion Panthera Atrox, perhaps the best known of all the prehistoric cat Smilodon. He lived in North and South America (from Alaska to Peru) during the Pleistocene era, and became extinct 11,000 years ago, the American lion is the largest cat in North America during the Ice Age, weighing up to 470 (£ 1036), perhaps even 500 kg (1102 pounds ), and capable of a very large animal prey.

4. Kabir Machairodus

Machairodus, may seem like a giant with a sabertooth tiger, although it is impossible to know whether the skin is striped, speckled or other types of fur sign. Machairodus rarely mentioned as a giant cat, but the fossils found in Chad, Africa, (and classified as new species, Machairodus kabir), indicating that this creature is one of the largest cat and weighs 490 kg (1080 pounds) or perhaps 500 kg (£ 1102).

5. Homotheirum

Also known as "cat sword", Homotherium is one of the most successful cat in prehistoric times, are found in North America and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He was a good hunter, who quickly adapted to the foot running and active, especially during the day (thus avoiding competition with other nocturnal predators).

Very long forelegs and hind legs are shorter, which gives the appearance of a bit like a hyena. Although Homotherium not famous for its size, but the fossil remains of some sword cat was recently found in the North Sea shows that they can weigh 400 kilograms (882 pounds), larger than the modern Siberian tigers.

6. Cave Lion

Lions Cave is a giant lion subspecies, weighing up to 300 kilograms (661 pounds) or more. This is one of the most dangerous and powerful predators during the last Ice Age in Europe, and there is evidence that he feared, and may be worshiped by the prehistoric man. Many cave paintings and some sculptures have been found depicting the Lion Caves.

Interestingly, this suggests that the lion is hardly possess the feathers of the neck, such as the modern tiger. This is confusing, some cave paintings also show the Lion Caves have faint stripes on the legs and tail. This has led some scientists to suggest that perhaps the Lion Caves is actually more related to Tiger.

7. European Jaguar

Unlike the giant Jaguar, jaguar Panthera gombaszoegensis European or not originating from the same species as modern jaguar. Jaguar Europe is a big predators, weighing up to 210 kg (463 pounds) or more, and probably at the top of the food chain in Europe, 1.5 million years ago. Fossil remains have been found in Germany, France, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.

8. Giant Jaguar

Jaguar is now smaller stature when compared to the lions or tigers, their average weight is usually 60-100 kg (132-220 pounds). However, in prehistoric times, part of the North & South America is home to the giant Jaguar. Still the same species as modern jaguar. He exceeds the size of a lion or tiger adult, and probably several times more powerful as well as with a bite

9. Xenosmilus

Fanged Xenosmilus short, thick, but quite sharp. All teeth (not just canines) have serrated edges for cutting meat, and more like a shark's tooth or a carnivorous dinosaur, compared to the teeth of modern cats. With a weight of 180-230 kg (397-507 pounds) Xenosmilus not strangle their prey such as modern cats do, he just bite a big piece of flesh from the victim, and waiting for its prey bleed to death.

10. Giant Cheetah

Giant Cheetah (Acinonyx pardinensis), derived from the same genus with our modern cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), and may seem very similar, but much larger. With a weight of 120-150 kg (265-331 pounds) he was able to prey on animals larger than her size.

But there is some debate whether he could run as fast as the modern cheetah, because of greater severity, but according to some experts, the Cheetah Giants have longer legs and heart and lungs are bigger, makes it possible he could run as fast or even faster than cheetah today - more than 115 km / h (72mph)!

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