Smilodon

     From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sabertooth Cats
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Smilodon
Species
Smilodon fatalis Smilodon gracilis Smilodon populator

Smilodon ("knife tooth") is more commonly known as the sabertooth cat (or, formerly, sabertooth tiger). Smilodon lived approximately 3 million-10,000 years ago in North America and South America. It is the only known successor to Machairodus.

Three species of Smilodon are known to have existed:

• Smilodon fatalis, 1.6 million-10,000 years ago
• Smilodon gracilis, 2.5 million-500,000 years ago
• Smilodon populator, 1 million-10,000 years ago

Smilodon was approximately 350 kg and had a short tail, powerful legs and a large head. Its jaws could open 95 degrees. Its saberteeth were about 17 cm (7 inches) long.

Many Smilodon fossils have been unearthed at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, which is why it is the prehistoric cat researchers know the most about.