Extinct Cats Overview
Get ready to time-travel with us into the mysterious and fascinating history of extinct cats! We’ll gander at some prehistoric kings like the giant American Lion and chat about the challenges jaguars encounter today.
Largest Prehistoric Cat
Meet the big boss of ancient felines, the Simbakubwa kutokaafrika. This mega-cat was built like a tank—tipping the scale at a staggering 1,308 kgs (2,882 lbs), even dwarfing our lions and tigers nowadays. Talk about a heavyweight champ!
| Prehistoric Cat | Estimated Weight (kg) | Estimated Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Simbakubwa kutokaafrika | 1,308 | 2,882 |
American Lion
The American Lion, known fancy-like as Panthera atrox, prowled the lands of North America enjoying the Ice Age ambiance of the Pleistocene epoch. Archaeologists have dug up over 80 fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits in sunny Los Angeles, providing a window into a time when these mighty cats dominated the scene.
Thought to be related to the Cave Lion, Panthera atrox might have decided to take a scenic ice-age vacation from Siberia to Alaska, setting up shop in the land of opportunities.
| Species | Fossil Discoveries at La Brea |
|---|---|
| Panthera atrox | 80+ |
Jaguars and Their Threats
Jaguars—those muscular, rosette-covered beauties—stalk through the steamy jungles of Central and South America. These cats pack a punch with their strong build perfect for stealthy gliding through their leafy hideouts.
Sadly, life isn’t all sunshine and rosettes. The IUCN lists jaguars as near threatened, as poaching, habitat loss, and illegal pet antics put them at serious risk. If these threats aren’t tackled head-on, jaguars could find themselves in quite a pickle in the near future.
For more insight into felines battling threats across the world, mosey over to our guides like cats that are big or cats that shed the least.
Cats Extinct in Australia
Australia’s wildlife faces a sneaky villain – feral cats. These felines have not only been pesky neighbors but also major players in wiping out several native species. Let’s take a closer look at how these four-legged hunters have impacted Australia’s vibrant ecosystem.
Impact of Feral Cats
Wild at heart, feral cats are not your average house cat gone rogue; they’re domestic cats turned wild and their hunting skills are off the charts! Globally, they’ve become a nightmare for wildlife, especially on islands where they reign supreme in causing extinctions. Just to give you an idea, in the US these prowling predators catch about 1.3–4.0 billion birds and a whopping 6.3–22.3 billion mammals every year (Nature Communications).
Australia’s unique critters have it tough because of these kitties, which are making the natural balance sway dangerously. Their hunting habits are a massive headache for conservationists, posing life-threatening risks to many species.
Extinct Native Animals
Australia’s wildlife maestros are singing the blues, as feral cats play havoc. The carnage is real, with several native creatures disappearing into the pages of history. These predators, with their insatiable appetites, have left ecosystems in tatters. Here are a few tragic tales:
| Extinct Native Animal | Sad Story |
|---|---|
| Lesser Bilby | Vanished, thanks to cats and some habitat tweaks |
| Desert Bandicoot | Took a bow due to predation and environmental changes |
| Crescent Nail-tail Wallaby | Mostly gone owing to those wily cats |
Extinctions by Cat Predation
Cat chow down isn’t limited to a few species; it’s widescale. Feral cats have been a royal pain for many already struggling native creatures, leading to a serious nose-diving of their numbers (Nature Communications). When it comes to threats, cats outweigh most and they’re particularly a problem as they’re usually not anyone’s pets causing massive environmental hurt.
Australia’s critters never saw these claws coming and are left defenseless. With such tremendous predation, it’s a race against time to save some of these extraordinary species from an unwelcome farewell.
For extra insights and more tales of feline predations, check out what we have to say on cats that kill rats and cats that are good with kids.
The tug-of-war between feral cats and conservation is knotty. Coming up with workable magic to control these cats while saving Australia’s wildlife is a big to-do. But these efforts are the lifeline needed to shield the nation’s amazing biodiversity.
Lesser-Known Extinct Cats
Amargosa Toad
So, let’s clear the air — the Amargosa Toad isn’t a feline, but it’s got quite the tale to tell. This unique critter calls Nevada home, relying on the flowing waters of the Amargosa River and its springs to survive. It’s mainly found hanging out in the Oasis Valley, stretching from Beatty all the way to the 7J Ranch Preserve. Funny how sometimes it gets lumped in with extinct cats, right? Just goes to show how important it is to get our labels straight.
Peregrine Falcons
Okay, picture this—peregrine falcons, masters of the sky, often mistaken for something they’re not, thanks to those confusing extinct animal lists. These speed demons reach dives that top 200 mph and chill in diverse spots like cliff sides and coastlines worldwide. They had a rough patch with pesticides messing up their numbers, but lucky for them (and us), they’ve made a grand comeback.
Barbary Lion
Here’s a real giant from the cat family—the mighty Barbary Lion. Back in the day, these big cats prowled the lands of North Africa, growing up to a whopping 8 feet from snout to tail and tipping scales at 660 lbs. But by the 1960s, they vanished from the wild. Interestingly, research in 2017 showed they’re not a separate species but rather a unique group of the Asiatic lion variety.
| Name | Extinction Status | Region | Notable Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amargosa Toad | Rare | Nevada, USA | Water-dependent, native to Amargosa River |
| Peregrine Falcons | Recovered | Global | Skydiving experts, clocking over 200 mph |
| Barbary Lion | Extinct (1960s) | North Africa | Massive build, up to 8 feet long, 660 lbs |
By unraveling these misclassifications, we shine a light on the Barbary Lion’s rightful place among the vanished giant cats. Curious for more wild stories? Check out our pieces on big cats and those lion look-alikes.
Extinct Prehistoric Cats
Smilodon Facts
Meet the Smilodon, or as many know it, the Saber-tooth cat, the rockstar of ancient felines! These furry giants prowled across North America way back during the Pleistocene days, posing quite a spectacle with their “check-out-my-chompers” look. Unearthed at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, more than 2,000 fossilized Smilodon bones have been found, all chilling evidence of their past splendor (Purr and Roar).
Key Facts about Smilodon:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time Period | Pleistocene Epoch |
| Size | Up to 3.3 feet at the shoulder |
| Weight | Up to 880 pounds |
| Distinguishing Feature | Long, gulp-inducing saber-like teeth |
Saber-tooth Cats
Saber-tooth cats were more of a fierce club than a single gang, known mostly for their standout toothy grins. Among the standout candidates was Smilodon Fatalis, a particularly famed species that folks have dug up and studied time and time again. Can you believe there were three different species of saber-tooth cats giving Charles Darwin a run for his money by existing all at once? (Purr and Roar).
Notable Saber-tooth Cat Species:
| Species | Time Period | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Smilodon Fatalis | Pleistocene | North America |
| Homotherium Serum | Late Pleistocene | North America, Europe, Africa, Asia |
| Smilodon Gracilis | Early Pleistocene | North America |
These toothy wonders are a showcase of how nature loves getting creative with predator designs.
Scimitar Cat Appearance
Enter the Scimitar Cat, or scientifically, Homotherium Serum, another wild beast of the Pleistocene era. Unlike its longer-toothed buddy, Smilodon, the Scimitar Cat sported blades that were more on the compact side, yet plenty deadly for slicing through a meal. These not-so-lasagna-loving cats traipsed around North America and other continents until their time came to an end (Purr and Roar).
Scimitar Cat Characteristics:
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Time Period | Late Pleistocene |
| Distribution | North America, Europe, Africa, Asia |
| Size | A tad smaller than Smilodon |
| Canine Description | Shorter, flatter, yet razor-sharp for cuts |
The skillful tweaks these ancient cats boasted speak volumes about their starring roles in nature’s ancient production.
If you’ve got your curiosity piqued about present-day big kitty kings, you might fancy diving into cats that look like lions or read up on those quirky cats that play fetch.
Cats That Made It
Cats have been through a lot, with some species biting the dust completely. Yet, some fierce felines have managed to hang on. Let’s have a look at three of these tough survivors: mountain lions, cougars, and jaguars.
Mountain Lions
Mountain lions have loads of names: cougars, pumas, or panthers. Once all over the United States, now they mostly kick it in 15 western states. The Florida panther, a special breed, is hanging on in the East despite humans messing up their homes, getting hunted, and payback killings due to livestock losses (Mountain Lion Foundation). This table below shows some of the stuff they’re dealing with:
| Threat | How Bad? |
|---|---|
| Habitat Loss | Yikes, Big Time |
| Poaching | Eh, Somewhat |
| Livestock Problems | Also Somewhat |
| Trophy Hunting | Not That Much |
Cougars’ Survival Tricks
These big cats have been prowling the Americas for ages. They’re masters at dodging danger and dealing with humans moving in on their turf. Known for their lone-wolf ways, they’ve got impressive breeding habits to grow their gang. Cougars can get busy 50 to 70 times in a day over a week-long session. All this helps them survive against the odds.
Cougars’ survival tricks include:
- Going solo (no roommates)
- Intense mating sessions
- Thriving anywhere
Want to know more about bigger cats? Check out our page on cats that are big.
Saving the Jaguars
Jaguars are tagged as near-threatened by the IUCN, mainly because of hunting and losing their space. Being hunted for their flashy fur, bones, and teeth, along with farmers having beef, puts a strain on jaguar numbers. They’re also losing their homes to logging, farming, and spreading cities.
Major threats for jaguars:
- Poaching
- Habitat Destruction
- Losing patches of their habitat
Conservation is a must to keep these beautiful creatures around. Efforts include keeping their homes safe, enforcing anti-poaching laws, and letting everyone know how important jaguars are to their environment. Dive into the details on our Endangered Jaguar Conservation page.
While many cats have checked out, these fighters show grit and resourcefulness. By getting behind the push to save them, we can help these fantastic animals keep prowling. For more info on other types of cats, peep our guides on cats that don’t shed, cats that look like tigers, and cats that stay small.