Data from: Eurasian wanderer: An island sabertoothed cat (Felidae, Machairodontinae) in the Far East

<p><span>Machairodontinae</span><span>, including the famous <em>Smilodon</em> and <em>Homotherium</em>, was an iconic Pleistocene carnivore lineage that occupied a critical ecological paleo-niche and is thought to have had a profound impact on Ice Age ecosystem structure. Recent ancient molecular studies on <em>Homotherium</em> suggest a wider distribution than inferred from the fossil record, highlighting a need for additional fieldwork, fossil collection, and research in understudied geographic regions. After the original publication 80 years ago that identified a Pleistocene carnivoran fossil as <em>Felis</em> sp. in Taiwan, here we revise its identification and demonstrate the presence of the large machairodontine cat, cf. <em>Homotherium</em> sp., in the Pleistocene of Taiwan, suggesting the easternmost occurrence of this lineage in Eurasia. Our results also exemplify the importance of fossil curation and in-depth research to reveal regional hidden diversity and lost ecosystem structure for understanding faunal turnover and the origin of modern biodiversity.</span></p>