Lokotunjailurus is an extinct genus of saber-toothed cats (Machairodontinae) which existed during the late Miocene and earliest Pliocene epoch and is known from localities in northern, central, eastern and southern Africa.

[1] More recent studies have since shed more light on its evolution, where Lokotunjailurus is shown to be sister to a lineage consisting of Amphimachairodus and its descendants, including Homotherium, and therefore no immediate relative of the latter.

[5] In the Djurab desert in northern Chad in central Africa, Lokotunjailurus fanonei seems to have lived alongside fellow machairodonts Adeilosmilus kabir, Yoshi and early representatives of the genus Megantereon.

In addition to these other cats, animals such as crocodiles, primitive three-toed horses, fish, monkeys, hippos, aardvarks, turtles, rodents, giraffes, snakes, antelopes, pigs, mongooses, foxes, hyenas, otters, honey badgers, the elephantid Stegotetrabelodon and the hominid Sahelanthropus tchadensis providing ample food for these cats, indicating that there was enough biodiversity that four sabertooths could coexist.

[6][7] At Langebaanweg, the carnivore guild was generally similar, but included a Dinofelis species (D. werdelini) in addition to the machairodont genera mentioned above, although Megantereon does not appear to be present.