The terms saber-toothed cat and saber-toothed tiger describe numerous species, mainly in the families
Felidae (subfamily
Machairodontinae),
Hyaenodontidae, and
Nimravidae, but also including two
marsupial families, that lived during various parts of the
Cenozoic and evolved their
saber-toothed characteristics entirely independently. The saber-tooth
morphology is an excellent example of
convergent evolution as it occurred repeatedly and independently in at least four distinct mammalian groups. They are most known for having teeth which were in some species up to 20 cm long, and extended down from the mouth even when closed. Saber-tooth cats were generally more robust than today's cats and were quite bear-like in build.
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SABER TOOTH CAT Smilidon
This classic sabertooth cat (or Smilidon) roamed North America (California) and South America (Argentina). It had a short tail, much like the bobcats of today. Its huge pair of teeth on the upper jaw were serrated along their back edges, this allowed it to easily pierce the flesh of its prey more easily. With its muscular shoulders and neck, it most likely feed on slow moving large prey in which it could sink its large teeth into. Large numbers of skeletons have been found in the Pleistocene tar pits of Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles. This species, called S. californicus, has been adopted as California's state fossil.
TIME - Late Pleistocene period
RANGE - North America / South America
DIET - Carnivore (meat eater)
SIZE - 4ft (1.2m) long
see time period
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