Pogonodon

Pogonodon is an extinct genus of saber-toothed cat belonging to the family Nimravidae. These carnivorous mammals lived in North America during the Oligocene epoch, approximately 33.9 to 23 million years ago.

Pogonodon was characterized by its prominent, saber-like canines, adaptations for a powerful bite, and a robust build suggesting a hunting style focused on larger prey. While superficially resembling the later saber-toothed cats of the Smilodon genus (family Felidae), Pogonodon represents an independent evolutionary lineage within the Nimravidae.

Fossil evidence of Pogonodon is relatively scarce compared to some other nimravids, but known remains have contributed to understanding the evolution and diversity of saber-toothed predators during the Oligocene. The precise phylogenetic relationships within the Nimravidae, and the specific ecological niche occupied by Pogonodon, remain areas of ongoing research.