Apataelurus

Apataelurus ("false cat") is an extinct genus of saber-toothed placental mammals from the extinct family Oxyaenidae, that lived in North America and East Asia during the Middle Eocene, 45-42 million years ago. This genus was defined by teeth that were well-adapted to a carnivorous diet. A distinct feature described was a long upper canine tooth that resembled a saber tooth. There are two species currently described: Apataelurus kayi, the type species, and Apataelurus pishigouensis, discovered in 1986.

As a large, leopard-sized predator, Apataelurus dominated the Uinta Formation area. It was adapted to taking on large prey with more struggling motion tolerant muscles in its mouth, allowing it to attack large prey that would fight back. It was closely related to other Machaeroidinae, such as Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae. Apataelurus and other species within the Uinta Basin emerged during a major transitional period between the reduction in tropical zones and the increase in temperate and subtropical biomes. Apataelurus was a more evolved member of Oxyaenidae, and lived in the middle to late Lutetian age.