Parailurus is a genus of
extinctcarnivoran mammal in the
familyAiluridae. It was about 50% larger than Ailurus (red panda) and lived in the early to late
PlioceneEpoch, 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]