Quercylurus fossil map
Where fossils of Quercylurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 30 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 30 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 | 33.9–23.04 million years ago (Rupelian to Chattian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Nimravidae |
| Named by | Ginsburg 1979 |
| Fossil records | 8 occurrences at 4 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | France, Spain |
| Rock formations | txn:41036, Quercy Phosphorites |
About Quercylurus
Quercylurus is an extinct nimravid carnivora (or "false sabre-toothed cat") from the Early to Late Oligocene of France and Spain. Its fossils were found in Early Oligocene strata in Quercy. It is known with only one species Quercylurus major. Q. major was one of the largest nimravids ever known, as its fossils suggest it was similar in size to the modern-day lion.
Currently there is only one described species within this genus, the type species, Q. major. Q. major lived in the moist and humid forests of Oligocene Europe, alongside the much smaller, fellow nimravid Eofelis.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Quercylurus (revision 1369325520), 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: Q16863893.
