While some pictures portray Megantereon as a soft and cuddly creature, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Its name alone means Giant Beast, which gives a more accurate insight into the ferocity of this sabre-toothed slayer.

Sizing up at around 4 feet long and weighing 100 pounds, Megantereon was like a heavyweight champion compared to your average house cat. Its powerful bite packed a punch, inflicting serious damage. Initially, scientists believed it used its teeth to hold onto prey until it perished, but further analysis revealed that the Megantereon likely injured its prey and patiently waited for it to die before digging in. As such, this sadistic predator struck fear into the hearts of its prey wherever it prowled—Africa, North America, and Eurasia were all part of its hunting grounds.