Saber-toothed cat

Saber-toothed cat or Sabre-toothed cat (see spelling differences) refers to the extinct subfamilies of Machairodontinae

Machairodontinae

Machairodontinae is an extinct carnivoran mammal subfamily of Felidae endemic to Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe from the Miocene to Pleistocene living from c. 23 Ma until c...

(Felidae

Felidae

Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...

), Barbourofelidae

Barbourofelidae

Barbourofelidae is an extinct family of mammalian carnivores of the suborder Feliformia, which lived in North America, Eurasia and Africa during the Miocene epoch , existing for approximately .- Taxonomy :...

(Feliformia

Feliformia

The Feliformia are a suborder within the order Carnivora and includes cats , hyenas, mongooses, civets and related taxa. The other suborder of Carnivora is Caniformia...

), and Nimravidae

Nimravidae

The Nimravidae, sometimes known as false saber-toothed cats, are an extinct family of mammalian carnivores belonging to the suborder Feliformia and endemic to North America, Europe, and Asia living from the Eocene through the Miocene epochs , existing for approximately .-Morphology:Although some...

(Feliformia) as well as two families related to marsupial

Marsupial

Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...

s that were found worldwide from the Eocene

Eocene

The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...

 Epoch to the end of the Pleistocene

Pleistocene

The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....

 Epoch (42 mya—11,000 years ago), existing for approximately . They are so called for their large, saber-like maxillary canine

Maxillary canine

The maxillary canine is the tooth located laterally from both maxillary lateral incisors of the mouth but mesial from both maxillary first premolars...

 teeth, which extended from their mouths even when it was closed. Despite the name, not all animals known as saber-toothed cats were closely related to modern felines

Felidae

Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...

.

The Nimravidae are the oldest, entering the landscape around 42 mya and becoming extinct by 7.2 mya. Barbourofelidae entered around 16.9 mya and were extinct by 9 mya. These two would have shared some habitats.

Morphology

These subfamilies evolved their sabre

Sabre

The sabre or saber is a kind of backsword that usually has a curved, single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard, covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger...

-toothed characteristics entirely independently. They are most known for having maxillary canine

Maxillary canine

The maxillary canine is the tooth located laterally from both maxillary lateral incisors of the mouth but mesial from both maxillary first premolars...

s which were, in some species, up to 50 cm(19.7 inches) long and extended down from the mouth even when the mouth was closed. Sabre-toothed cats were generally more robust than today's cats and were quite bear-like in build. They were believed to be excellent hunters and hunted animals such as sloths

Ground sloth

Ground sloths are a diverse group of extinct sloths, in the mammalian superorder Xenarthra. Their most recent survivors lived in the Antilles, where it has been proposed they may have survived until 1550 CE; however, the youngest AMS radiocarbon date reported is 4190 BP, calibrated to c. 4700 BP...

, mammoths

Woolly mammoth

The woolly mammoth , also called the tundra mammoth, is a species of mammoth. This animal is known from bones and frozen carcasses from northern North America and northern Eurasia with the best preserved carcasses in Siberia...

, and other large prey. Evidence from the numbers found at La Brea Tar Pits

La Brea Tar Pits

The La Brea Tar Pits are a cluster of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water...

 suggests that Smilodon

Smilodon

Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...

, like modern lions, was a social carnivore

Carnivore

A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...

.

Saber-tooth genera

Genus Name	Species Species In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...	Appeared (Ma BP Before Present Before Present years is a time scale used in archaeology, geology, and other scientific disciplines to specify when events in the past occurred. Because the "present" time changes, standard practice is to use AD 1950 as the origin of the age scale, reflecting the fact that radiocarbon... )	Died out (Ma BP)	Regions	Canine Size
Smilodon Smilodon Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...	3-5		0.01	North & South America	17–30 cm
Hoplophoneus Hoplophoneus Hoplophoneus is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America during the Late Eocene-Oligocene epochs , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...	5	33.7	23.8	North & South America
Eusmilus Eusmilus Eusmilus is a prehistoric genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America, Europe,and Asia during the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene epochs , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...	3	30.5	28	Europe, North & South America
Dinictis Dinictis Dinictis is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America during the Eocene-Oligocene epochs , existing for approximately .- Taxonomy :...	4	40	25	North America
Dinaelurus Dinaelurus Dinaelurus is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, endemic to North America during the Eocene-Oligocene epochs , existing for approximately .It is believed that Dinaelurus was a cursorial predator meaning it ran down its prey...	1	?	?	North America
Dinailurictis Dinailurictis Dinailurictis is a nimravid belonging to subfamily Nimravinae. It lived during late Oligocene in Europe.Its believed that Dinailurictis is probably a synonym of Quercylurus major, and Quercylurus is a synonym of Nimravus intermedius major...	1	?	?	?
Eofelis Eofelis Eofelis is an extinct genus of small nimravid . They were catlike creatures that evolved in parallel with true cats but are not a part of the true cat lineage and have left no living descendants....	2	?	?	?
Nimravidus (Nimravides)	2	?	?	?
Nimravus Nimravus Nimravus is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America during the Oligocene epoch , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:... (Nimravinus)	6	33.5	20	Europe, North America
Nimraviscus	1	?	?	?
Pogonodon Pogonodon Pogonodon is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America and Eurasia during the Eocene-Miocene epochs , existing for approximately ..-Taxonomy:Pogonodon was named by Cope...	2	15		Europe, North America
Quercylurus Quercylurus Quercylurus is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae. Like Pogonodon and Nimravus, it lived during the Eocene epoch ....	1	?	?	?
Archaelurus	1	?	?	?
Aelurogale (Ailurictis)	1	?	?	?
Ictidailurus	1	?	?	?
Albanosmilus Albanosmilus Albanosmilus is an extinct genus of the family Barbourofelidae.It was previously thought to be constituents of the feliform Nimravidae family of false sabre-toothed cats. It was assigned to Barbourofelinae by Bryant ....	3	18		Africa, Eurasia
Afrosmilus	1	25	10	Africa
Barbourofelis Barbourofelis Barbourofelis is an extinct genus of large, mostly carnivorous mammals of the family Barbourofelidae endemic to North America, during the Miocene living from 13.6—5.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...	7	15		Africa, Eurasia
Ginsburgsmilus Ginsburgsmilus Ginsburgsmilus is an extinct genus of carnivorous mammal of the family Barbourofelidae endemic to Africa during the early Miocene. There is only one known specimen of Ginsburgsmilus napakensis, dated to 20-19 mya.-Taxonomy:...	1	23	10	Africa
Prosansanosmilus Prosansanosmilus Prosansanosmilus is an extinct genus of mammalian carnivores of the suborder Feliformia, family Barbourofelidae, which lived in Europe during the Miocene epoch , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...	2	18		Africa, Eurasia
Sansanosmilus Sansanosmilus Sansanosmilus is an extinct genus of carnivorous mammal of the family Barbourofelidae endemic to Europe, and Asia living during the Miocene 13.6—11.1 mya, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...	3	12		Africa, Eurasia
Syrtosmilus	1	23		Africa
Vampyrictis	1	15		Africa, Eurasia
Vishnusmilus	1	?	?	?
Homotherium Homotherium Homotherium is an extinct genus of machairodontine saber-toothed cats, often termed scimitar cats, endemic to North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs , existing for approximately .It first became extinct in Africa some 1.5 million years ago...	10		0.01	Africa, Eurasia, North & South America
Miracinonyx Miracinonyx Miracinonyx is an extinct genus of the family Felidae, endemic to North America during the Pleistocene epoch , existing for approximately ....	2	3.2	0.01	North America
Thylacosmilus Thylacosmilus Thylacosmilus was a genus of sabre-toothed metatherian predators that first appeared during the Miocene. Remains of the animal have been found in parts of South America, primarily Argentina... (sparassodont Sparassodonta Sparassodonta is an extinct order of carnivorous metatherian mammals native to South America. They were once considered to be true marsupials, but are now thought to be a sister taxon to them. A number of these mammalian predators closely resemble placental predators that evolved separately on... )	2	10		South America	over 30 cm
Metailurus Metailurus Metailurus is a genus of false saber-toothed cat of the family Felidae, belonging to the tribe Metailurini endemic to North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia during the Miocene to Pleistocene, living from 9 Ma—11,000 years ago and existed for approximately .Metailurus was named by Zdansky...	9	15		Eurasia
Adelphailurus Adelphailurus Adelphailurus is an extinct genus of saber-toothed cats of the family Felidae and tribe Metailurini which inhabited western North America during the Miocene living from 10.3—5.33 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...	1	23		North America
Paramachairodus Paramachairodus Paramachairodus is an extinct genus of saber-tooth cat of the subfamily Machairodontinae endemic to Europe and Asia, during the late Miocene from 15 to 9 Ma....	3	20–15		Europe
Machairodus Machairodus Machairodus was a genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that lived in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America during the Miocene through Pleistocene living from 11.6mya—126,000 years ago, existing for approximately .-Species:... (Ancestral to Homotherium)	18	15		Africa, Eurasia, North America
Miomachairodus Miomachairodus Miomachairodus was an extinct genus of large saber-toothed cats of the subfamily Machairodontinae, that lived in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America during most of the Miocene...	1	13.65	5.33	Europe, Asia, Africa, North America
Hemimachairodus	1	Pleistocene	Pleistocene	Java
Lokotunjailurus Lokotunjailurus Lokotunjailurus is the name of a genus of sabre-toothed cats which existed in Kenya and Chad during the Miocene epoch....	1	late Miocene	late Miocene	Africa
Megantereon Megantereon Megantereon was an ancient machairodontine saber-toothed cat that lived in North America, Eurasia, and Africa. It may be the ancestor of Smilodon.- Fossil range :...	8		0.5	Africa, Eurasia, North America
Dinofelis Dinofelis Dinofelis is a genus of sabre-toothed cats belonging to the tribe Metailurini. They were widespread in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America at least 5 million to about 1.2 million years ago...	6			Africa, Eurasia, North America
Therailurus	1			Africa, Eurasia, North America
Pontosmilus Pontosmilus Pontosmilus is a genus of machairodontine saber-toothed cats.- References :*...	4	20		Eurasia
Proailurus Proailurus Proailurus was a prehistoric carnivore that lived in Europe and Asia approximately 25 million years ago in the Late Oligocene and Miocene. One recent phylogeny places it as a basal member of the Feloidea, the superfamily that includes mongooses, civets, hyenas, and cats; but other studies suggest...	2	30	20	Europe, North America
Pseudaelurus Pseudaelurus Pseudaelurus is a prehistoric cat that lived in Europe, Asia and North America in the Miocene approximately 20-8 million years ago. It is an ancestor of today's felines and pantherines as well as the extinct machairodont saber-tooths, and is a successor to Proailurus...	1	20	10	Europe, North America
Xenosmilus Xenosmilus Xenosmilus is a genus of extinct Machairodontinae, or saber-toothed cat. Two fairly intact specimens were found by amateur fossil hunters, in 1983 in the Haile limestone mines in Alachua County, Florida... (1 specimen)	1			North America
Stenailurus	1	?	?	?
Epimachairodus	1	?	?	?
Hemimachairodus	1	?	?	?
Ischyrosmilus	1	?	?	?

Saber-tooth evolutionary tree

All saber-tooth mammals lived between 33.7 million and 9,000 years ago, but the evolutionary lines that led to the various saber-tooth genera started to diverge much earlier. It is thus a polyphyletic grouping.

The lineage that led to Thylacosmilus

Thylacosmilus

Thylacosmilus was a genus of sabre-toothed metatherian predators that first appeared during the Miocene. Remains of the animal have been found in parts of South America, primarily Argentina...

was the first to split off, in the late Cretaceous

Cretaceous

The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...

. It is a marsupial

Marsupial

Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...

, and thus more closely related to kangaroo

Kangaroo

A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...

s and opossums than the felines

Felidae

Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...

. The creodonts diverged next, and then the nimravids, before the blossoming of the truly feline saber-tooths.

• Class Mammal
  Mammal
  Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
  
  ia
  • Subclass Marsupial
    Marsupial
    Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
    
    ia (diverged ?, in the Cretaceous
    Cretaceous
    The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
    
    )
    • Order †Sparassodonta
      Sparassodonta
      Sparassodonta is an extinct order of carnivorous metatherian mammals native to South America. They were once considered to be true marsupials, but are now thought to be a sister taxon to them. A number of these mammalian predators closely resemble placental predators that evolved separately on...
      
       (an extinct group of marsupial carnivores)
      • Family †Borhyaenidae
        Borhyaenidae
        The borhyaenids, members of the Borhyaenidae family of metatherians , were a carnivorous group of otter/wolverine-shaped marsupials in the order Sparassodonta. They lived in the Miocene of South America . Like most metatherians, they had a pouch to carry their offspring around...
        
        
      • Family †Thylacosmilidae
        • †Patagosmilus
        • †Anachlysictis
          Anachlysictis
          Anachlysictis is an extinct genus of carnivorous mammal belonging to the group Sparassodonta, related to the current metatherian marsupials that inhabited South America during the Cenozoic...
          
          
        • †Thylacosmilus
          Thylacosmilus
          Thylacosmilus was a genus of sabre-toothed metatherian predators that first appeared during the Miocene. Remains of the animal have been found in parts of South America, primarily Argentina...
          
          
  • Subclass Placentalia
    • Order †Creodonta
      Creodonta
      The creodonts are an extinct order of mammals that lived from the Paleocene to the Miocene epochs. They shared a common ancestor with the Carnivora....
      
       (diverged ?, in the Paleocene
      Paleocene
      The Paleocene or Palaeocene, the "early recent", is a geologic epoch that lasted from about . It is the first epoch of the Palaeogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era...
      
      )
      • Family †Hyaenodontidae
        Hyaenodontidae
        Hyaenodontidae is a family of the extinct order Creodonta, which contains several dozen genera.The Hyaenodontids were important mammalian predators that arose during the late Paleocene and persisted well into the Miocene...
        
        
        • †Hyaenodon
          Hyaenodon
          Hyaenodon is an extinct genus of Hyaenodonts, a group of carnivorous creodonts of the family Hyaenodontidae endemic to all continents except South America, Australia and Antarctica, living from 42—15.9 mya, existing for approximately .-Morphology:Some species of this genus were amongst the largest...
          
          
        • †Boualitomus
        • †Laekitherium
        • †Metapterodon
        • †Triacodon
        • †Parvagula
        • †Machaeroides
          Machaeroides
          Machaeroides is a genus of sabre-toothed creodont that lived during the Eocene. Its fossils were found in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is the earliest known sabre-toothed mammal.-Description:...
          
          
    • Order Carnivora
      Carnivora
      The diverse order Carnivora |Latin]] carō "flesh", + vorāre "to devour") includes over 260 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal...
      
      
      • Family †Nimravidae
        Nimravidae
        The Nimravidae, sometimes known as false saber-toothed cats, are an extinct family of mammalian carnivores belonging to the suborder Feliformia and endemic to North America, Europe, and Asia living from the Eocene through the Miocene epochs , existing for approximately .-Morphology:Although some...
        
         (diverged from the feliforms 48–55 Ma BP, in the late Eocene)
        • Subfamily †Nimravinae
          Nimravus
          Nimravus is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America during the Oligocene epoch , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
          
           (Dinictis
          Dinictis
          Dinictis is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America during the Eocene-Oligocene epochs , existing for approximately .- Taxonomy :...
          
          )
        • Subfamily †Hoplophoninae
          Hoplophoneus
          Hoplophoneus is an extinct genus of the family Nimravidae, subfamily Nimravinae endemic to North America during the Late Eocene-Oligocene epochs , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
          
          
      • Suborder Feliformia
        Feliformia
        The Feliformia are a suborder within the order Carnivora and includes cats , hyenas, mongooses, civets and related taxa. The other suborder of Carnivora is Caniformia...
        
         ('cat-like' carnivores)
        • Family †Barbourofelidae
          Barbourofelidae
          Barbourofelidae is an extinct family of mammalian carnivores of the suborder Feliformia, which lived in North America, Eurasia and Africa during the Miocene epoch , existing for approximately .- Taxonomy :...
          
           (sister taxa to Felidae)
        • Family Felidae
          Felidae
          Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
          
           (true cats)
          • Subfamily †Machairodontinae
            Machairodontinae
            Machairodontinae is an extinct carnivoran mammal subfamily of Felidae endemic to Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe from the Miocene to Pleistocene living from c. 23 Ma until c...
            
             (diverged ?, in the ?)
            • Tribe †Homotheriini
              • †Homotherium
                Homotherium
                Homotherium is an extinct genus of machairodontine saber-toothed cats, often termed scimitar cats, endemic to North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs , existing for approximately .It first became extinct in Africa some 1.5 million years ago...
                
                
              • †Machairodus
                Machairodus
                Machairodus was a genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that lived in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America during the Miocene through Pleistocene living from 11.6mya—126,000 years ago, existing for approximately .-Species:...
                
                
              • †Xenosmilus
                Xenosmilus
                Xenosmilus is a genus of extinct Machairodontinae, or saber-toothed cat. Two fairly intact specimens were found by amateur fossil hunters, in 1983 in the Haile limestone mines in Alachua County, Florida...
                
                
            • Tribe †Metailurini
              Metailurini
              Metailurini is an extinct tribe of large saber-toothed cats of the subfamily Felinae, that lived in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America during the Miocene to Pleistocene living from 11.610 mya—11,000 years ago, existing for approximately ....
              
              
              • †Dinofelis
                Dinofelis
                Dinofelis is a genus of sabre-toothed cats belonging to the tribe Metailurini. They were widespread in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America at least 5 million to about 1.2 million years ago...
                
                
              • †Metailurus
                Metailurus
                Metailurus is a genus of false saber-toothed cat of the family Felidae, belonging to the tribe Metailurini endemic to North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia during the Miocene to Pleistocene, living from 9 Ma—11,000 years ago and existed for approximately .Metailurus was named by Zdansky...
                
                
            • Tribe †Smilodontini
              Smilodontini
              Smilodontini is an extinct tribe of "saber-toothed cats", contained within the Machairodontinae subfamily of the Felidae endemic to South America, North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa living during the Miocene to Pleistocene from 10.3 mya—11,000 years ago, existing for approximately .As the name...
              
              
              • †Megantereon
                Megantereon
                Megantereon was an ancient machairodontine saber-toothed cat that lived in North America, Eurasia, and Africa. It may be the ancestor of Smilodon.- Fossil range :...
                
                
              • †Paramachairodus
                Paramachairodus
                Paramachairodus is an extinct genus of saber-tooth cat of the subfamily Machairodontinae endemic to Europe and Asia, during the late Miocene from 15 to 9 Ma....
                
                
              • †Smilodon
                Smilodon
                Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...
                
                

Literature

• D. Mol / W. v. Logchem / K. v. Hooijdonk / R. Bakker: The Saber-Toothed Cat, DrukWare, Norg 2008, ISBN 978-90-78707-04-2

External links

• Extinct Cats Index
• Illinois State Museum: Saber-toothed Cats
• UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology: Sabre-toothed Cats
• Prehistoric cats and prehistoric cat-like creatures