Puma incurva is an extinct species in genus Puma. It was described based on fossils from the Early Pleistocene-aged Swartkrans site in South Africa.
Taxonomy & evolution Puma incurva was initially described in 1956 as an extinct subspecies of leopard under the name Panthera pardus incurva. It was generally accepted under that name until a review of the material in 2023 noted that, while certain features of the fossils were unusual for a leopard, they were much more similar to members of the genus Puma, and reassigned the subspecies to that genus as a full genus. It is hypothesized that P. incurva may have been the result of hybridization between Puma and Panthera (such as leopards). Material includes a nearly complete but badly crushed skull.
Description Puma incurva was a leopard-sized cat. The skull is mostly Puma-like, but the upper carnassial is Panthera-like.
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