Xenosmilus

Xenosmilus
Temporal range: Early Pleistocene (Blancan to Irvingtonian) ~ Possible Middle Pleistocene records
X. hodsonae, Florida Museum of Natural History Fossil Hall at the University of Florida
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Machairodontinae
Tribe: Homotherini
Genus: Xenosmilus
Martin et al., 2000
Type species
Xenosmilus hodsonae
Martin et al., 2000
Other species
  • X. venezuelensis? Rincón et al., 2011

Xenosmilus is an extinct genus of homotherin machairodontine (saber-toothed cat) that roamed the North America from the Early Pleistocene. The type species of the genus, X. hodsonae, is known from Early Pleistocene deposits in Florida.

Over the recent years, scientists have proposed X. venezuelensis (formerly Homotherium venezuelensis) could be a valid species within the genus, in addition to a possible third unnamed species, cf. Xenosmilus sp., from Uruguay. If valid, both species would extend the genus’ range into the Middle Pleistocene and South America.