A new species of giant saber-toothed cat has been identified, providing fresh insights into the history of North America’s prehistoric predators. The animal lived between 5 million and 9 million years ago and weighed as much as 900 pounds, making it one of the largest known cats to have existed.
Researchers made this discovery by comparing seven uncategorized fossil specimens with previously identified fossil and bone samples from around the world. One of the most surprising aspects of this discovery was the role of forearm bones in identifying the new species. The team compared humerus fossils from various big cat species, including modern lions, pumas, and tigers, and found that the large, muscular forearms of this new species were unlike any other known cat.
The largest of the humerus fossils analyzed was over 18 inches long, significantly larger than the average human forearm. This difference in size and structure strongly suggests that Machairodus lahayishupup was a giant among the saber-toothed cats. Scientists estimate that it weighed around 600 pounds, but could have taken down prey as large as 6,000 pounds.
Machairodus lahayishupup likely preyed on large herbivores such as rhinoceroses and ground sloths, which were abundant in North America at the time. The team’s study co-author, Jonathan Calede, described these animals as regularly hunting bison-sized creatures. “This was by far the largest cat alive at that time,” he said.
The identification of Machairodus lahayishupup raises questions about the evolution of saber-toothed cats across different continents. While giant saber-toothed cats have been known to exist in Europe, Asia, and Africa, this new find indicates that North America also hosted its own giant species during this period. The team proposes that their findings contribute significantly to the understanding of saber-toothed cat evolution, suggesting either a pattern of repeated independent evolution or a common ancestor that dispersed globally.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/07/meet-the-gigantic-saber-toothed-cat