Dinofelis is an extinct genus of saber-toothed cat that roamed various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, from the Early Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene epochs, roughly 5 million to 1.2 million years ago. Sometimes referred to as a "false saber-toothed cat," its canines were longer and more flattened than those of modern felines, but not as massive as those of "true" saber-toothed cats like Smilodon.
* Size: Dinofelis varied in size, with some species being comparable to large lynxes or small pumas, while others were closer in size to jaguars or even estimated up to 149 kg (330 lb).
* Dentition: While having prominent upper canines, they were not as exaggerated as those of other machairodonts. Its lower canines were robust, but its cheek teeth were not as strong as those of most modern big cats.
* Build: Dinofelis had a robust build, particularly in its forelimbs, suggesting it was an ambush hunter rather than a pursuit predator. It likely used its strength to wrestle prey to the ground.
* Habitat: Morphometric analysis suggests Dinofelis was best suited for mixed habitats, rather than entirely open grasslands or dense woodlands. It's thought they could adapt to a range of environments, similar to modern leopards and jaguars.
* Diet: Isotope analysis of specimens indicates that Dinofelis primarily hunted grazing animals. There's a common, though debated, idea that Dinofelis might have preyed on early hominids, especially given fossil associations found in some South African cave sites. However, scientific evidence suggests that like any big cat of its size, ungulates (hoofed animals) would have been their main food source.