Apataelurus fossil map
Where fossils of Apataelurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 45 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 45 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 45.9–27.3 million years ago (Lutetian to Rupelian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Oxyaenidae |
| Named by | Scott 1937 |
| Fossil records | 8 occurrences at 3 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, China |
| Rock formations | Uinta, Santiago, Hetaoyuan |
About Apataelurus
Apataelurus ("false cat") is an extinct genus of saber-toothed 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 motion-tolerant muscles in its mouth, allowing it to attack large prey that would struggle or fight back. Apataelurus was closely related to other members of Machaeroidinae, such as Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae. Apataelurus was a derived member of Oxyaenidae, and lived in the middle to late Lutetian age. 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.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Apataelurus (revision 1379984344), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q56328047.
![Sydney Prentice (1873-1943) ([2]): drawing), William Berryman Scott (1858-1947): scientific](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apataelurus_kayi_holotype_dentary_-_Scott_1938.png){kind=link}