The cat family in terms of physical adaptation are probably the most proficient of mammalian predators. Most of what we know in terms of cat evolution is confined to the last ten million years, and any clear idea of early cat ancestry is uncertain.

Species of this Scimitar toothed cat genus are known from Europe, Africa and North America. Pictured here is lion-sized Homotherium serum, a North American species.  

Homotherium is characterized by some interesting and unique physical characteristics for a large felid. The elongated neck made positioning the head for biting with the scimitar canines more precise and effective. The limb proportions of Homotherium gave a Hyena-like appearance, with the front legs being slightly longer than the rear legs, causing the back to slope towards the short tail. A compact powerful lumbar( lower back, between the ribs and the pelvis  ) region points toward reduced mobility and speed which suggests that Homotherium probably ambushed and momentarily overpowered its prey in order to deliver the killing/disabling  bite. The enlarged canine teeth of Homotherium, while not as large as the saber tooth tiger Smilodon, were crenulated and designed for slashing rather than pure stabbing. There appears to be a reduction in Homotheriums ability to retract its claws compared to other big cats save for the cheetah. What this means for its habits is not clear. Although fossils of this genus are widely distributed the material tends to be fragmentary. One exception to this would be the discoveries at Freisenhahn cave in Texas where the remains of 30 individuals have been discovered along with over 70 teeth of baby mammoths, which points towards a specific hunting strategy for this group at least.

In North America fossil remains of Homotherium are less abundant than that of its contemporary Smilodon, and probably for the most part inhabited higher latitudes and altitudes and therefore was likely to be well adapted to colder environments.