2k shares In the latter case, the big cat forearm was accompanied by teeth, which are generally considered a gold standard for identifying new species. The largest M. lahayishupup humerus fossils they found was more than 18 inches (46 cm) and 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) in diameter. For comparison, the upper arm bone of an average modern adult male lion is around 13 inches (33 cm) in length. US researchers named the ferocious feline 'Machairodus lahayishupup' to honour the Cayuse people, on whose lands the original specimen was unearthed. In Old Cayuse, 'Laháyis Húpup' means 'ancient wild cat', while 'Machairodus' is a known genus of giant, sabre-toothed cats from North America, Africa, Eurasia