[?] Subscribe To This Site

American Lion

Panthera Leo Atrox

The American Lion is thought to be the largest cat that ever lived! Also known as Felis Atrox, it is a relative of the African Lion (Panthera leo) and maybe a subspecies. It was larger than an African Lion, 5 foot (1.7M) tall and 11.5 foot (3.5M) in length from nose to tail and weighing about 700-800 lbs. It ranged from Alaska to the middle of South America.

Dating as far back as 70,000 years ago, it went extinct about 10,000 years ago. In Florida, this large cat arrived in the late Pleistocene Period and is considered extremely rare. A complete skull with lower jaws was discovered in Columbia County, Florida. It is more uncommon than Smilodon fossils here, and larger too.

This Prehistoric Cat had a muscularly built body with longer legs than an African Lion and was possibly faster. It had 4 inch plus canine teeth. This Top Ice Age Predator had an estimated bite force of 1800 lbs. per square inch. That is twice the bite force of today's modern lion. The Male had no mane, like its Cave Lion cousin.

Over a hundred specimens have been collected in the La Brea Tar Pits of Los Angeles, California.

It, also, had the largest brain to body size of any lions known.

It was considered mainly an ambush hunter and not a long distance runner, needing cover to hide in. With razor sharp claws, this prehistoric predator probably hunted ancient bison and the western horse.

Bobcat Cave Lion Jaguar Puma Saber-Toothed Cats Scimitar Cat

Back to Cat Fossils
Leave American Lion / Go to Home Page

footer for american lion page