Parailurus Temporal range: early to late Pliocene
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Ailuridae |
Subfamily: | Ailurinae |
Genus: | †Parailurus Schlosser, 1899 |
Type species | |
†P. anglicus (Dawkins, 1888)
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Species | |
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Synonyms | |
P. anglicus
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Parailurus is a genus of extinct carnivoran mammal in the family Ailuridae. It was about 50% larger than Ailurus (red panda) and lived in the early to late Pliocene Epoch, and its fossils have been found in Europe, North America, and Japan.[1][2]
The fossils of P. baikalicus carry low-crowned lower molars, along with the main cuspids of the cheek teeth being worn horizontally. This suggests P. baikalicus commonly ate leaves.[3]
A third species, Parailurus tedfordi, was described in 2022.[4]