Name: Smilodon
Pronunciation: Smile-OH-dawn Translation: Knife Tooth Diet: Carnivore Height: 4 feet (1.2 meters) Length: 6 - 7 feet (1.8 - 2 meters) Weight: 330 - 770 pounds (150 - 350 kilograms) Location: Texas, Throughout North and South America Time: Pleistocene to Holocene (2.5 Million - 10,000 Years Ago) |
Despite being commonly known as the “Saber-Toothed Tiger”, Smilodon and its relatives were not very closely related to modern tigers at all. In fact, Smilodon was quite unique when compared to most modern cats and likely lived an equally unique lifestyle. Smilodon had a far more muscular torso and forelimbs than today’s felines, giving it an immense advantage at wrestling down struggling prey. However, this power came at a cost, as although Smilodon was an ambush predator like many modern cats, its bulk meant it was likely a lot slower than them, and thus poorly equipped to chase prey for long distances in the event an ambush failed. However, Smilodon did share one major similarity with a modern big feline: its hyoid bones suggest its roar sounded like that of a lion!
By far the most outstanding feature of Smilodon was its largely oversized upper canine teeth that give this animal its name. Smilodon would use these teeth, which grew up to 11 inches long, to deliver deep and devastating injuries to prey. As the teeth were incredibly long for a predator of its size, Smilodon’s mouth opened at an astounding 95 degrees (to compare, our jaws only open a mere 26 degrees). Surprisingly, these teeth were rather fragile and could have broken easily, meaning Smilodon might have used its powerful body and sharp claws to wound and subdue its prey before delivering a killing bite, ensuring the teeth would be minimally damaged in a struggle. Some scientists even believe that to further protect the teeth, Smilodon’s lips would have drooped down over them, only pulling its lips back when it needed to make use of the deadly weapons underneath!
Smilodon was an incredibly successful hunter, and it's actually not fully understood why this deadly predator went extinct. Some scientists theorize that when other large animals like the Mammoths and Giant Sloths (some of Smilodon’s preferred prey) began to disappear, Smilodon did too. Other theories suggest that when early humans and dogs arrived in the Americas, they outcompeted Smilodon for prey, and Smilodon died out when there was not enough food to go around.
By far the most outstanding feature of Smilodon was its largely oversized upper canine teeth that give this animal its name. Smilodon would use these teeth, which grew up to 11 inches long, to deliver deep and devastating injuries to prey. As the teeth were incredibly long for a predator of its size, Smilodon’s mouth opened at an astounding 95 degrees (to compare, our jaws only open a mere 26 degrees). Surprisingly, these teeth were rather fragile and could have broken easily, meaning Smilodon might have used its powerful body and sharp claws to wound and subdue its prey before delivering a killing bite, ensuring the teeth would be minimally damaged in a struggle. Some scientists even believe that to further protect the teeth, Smilodon’s lips would have drooped down over them, only pulling its lips back when it needed to make use of the deadly weapons underneath!
Smilodon was an incredibly successful hunter, and it's actually not fully understood why this deadly predator went extinct. Some scientists theorize that when other large animals like the Mammoths and Giant Sloths (some of Smilodon’s preferred prey) began to disappear, Smilodon did too. Other theories suggest that when early humans and dogs arrived in the Americas, they outcompeted Smilodon for prey, and Smilodon died out when there was not enough food to go around.