''Adelphailurus'' is an extinct genus of saber-toothed cats of the Family (biology), family Felidae and tribe Metailurini which inhabited western North America during the Miocene, living from 10.3 to 5.33 Annum, Ma and existing for approximately .

Taxonomy

''Adelphailurus'' was named by Hibbard (1934). Its type is ''Adelphailurus kansensis''. It was assigned to Felidae by Hibbard (1934) and Carroll (1988); and to Machairodontinae by Martin (1998).L. D. Martin. 1998. Felidae. Evolution of Tertiary mammals of North America (eds. C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs) 1:236-242

Morphology

It was a cougar-sized animal and may have had habits similar to those of a cougar. Its body had the same shape as a cougar except for a long and compressed upper canine. This would place this cat into the "false-sabertooth" group. Apart from that ''Adelphailurus'' had a retained upper second premolar, which is unusual for a cat.

References

External links

Metailurini Miocene felids Miocene mammals of North America Prehistoric carnivoran genera {{paleo-carnivora-stub