Xenosmilus

Xenosmilus
X. hodsonae, Florida Museum of Natural History Fossil Hall at the University of Florida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
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 (from Ancient Greek ξένος (xénos), meaning "strange", and σμίλη (smílē), meaning "knife, chisel") is an extinct genus of homotherin machairodontine felid (saber-toothed cat) that roamed 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.