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Smilodon fatalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Subfamily: Machairodontinae Genus: Smilodon Species: S. fatalis
Binomial name
Smilodon fatalis (Leidy, 1869)

Smilodon fatalis ("the deadly Smilodon") is possibly the best-known of the machairodontine saber-toothed cats. It appeared in North America about 1.6 million years ago and later migrated down the west coast of the continent to Peru. It became extinct around 10,000 years ago. Smilodon fatalis ranged in weight from 300 to 450 lb (130 to 200 kg) and ranged in height from 39 to 47 inches (1 to 1.2 m). Their teeth are about 7 in (18 cm). Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 578 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1920 × 1992 pixel, file size: 904 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Skull of Smilodon fatalis at Ueno Royal Museum. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including milk producing sweat glands, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Families 17, See classification The diverse order Carnivora (IPA: or ; from Latin carō (stem carn-) flesh, + vorāre to devour) includes over 260 species of placental mammals. ... “Feline” redirects here. ... Tribes Metailurini Homotheriini Smilodontini Machairodontinae is a subfamily of the Felidae (true cats). ... Species Smilodon californicus Smilodon fatalis Smilodon gracilis Smilodon populator Smilodon floridus For the record label, see Smilodon Records Smilodon (IPA: //, a bahuvrihi from Greek: knife and (Ionic) tooth) is an extinct genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that are understood to have lived between approximately 3 million to 10... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Species Smilodon californicus Smilodon fatalis Smilodon gracilis Smilodon populator Smilodon floridus For the record label, see Smilodon Records Smilodon (IPA: //, a bahuvrihi from Greek: knife and (Ionic) tooth) is an extinct genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that are understood to have lived between approximately 3 million to 10... Tribes Metailurini Homotheriini Smilodontini Machairodontinae is a subfamily of the Felidae (true cats). ... The fossilized skeleton of a saber-toothed cat (Smilodon californicus). ... North American redirects here. ...

Life restoration of a Smilodon fatalis.

Although the saber-toothed cat has no close living relatives, paleontologists reconstruct how the saber-toothed cat looked by comparing its bones with those of large cats living today. Very powerful front legs and a short tail indicate that saber-toothed cats used stealth and ambush rather than speed to capture their prey.

Recent investigations suggest that this saber-toothed cat probably used its long canines to slash through the throat, severing the wind pipe and cutting the jugular. Its teeth were surprisingly delicate and could easily snap off if a prey animal struggled. Its mouth could open up to 120 degrees, whereas one of its closest living relatives, Panthera leo, the lion, can only open its jaws to 65 degrees. Binomial name Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) The Lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae. ...

Some fossils show healed injuries or diseases that would have crippled the animal. Some paleontologists see this as evidence that saber-toothed cats were social animals, living and hunting in packs that provided food for old and sick members.

Most saber-toothed cats lived in grasslands, or pine forests with rocky soil. A majority of fossils have been discovered in areas such as these.

A smilodon.

The La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles trapped hundreds of Smilodon in the tar, possibly as they tried to feed on mammoths already trapped. There is a museum there today which has many of their complete skeletons. Image File history File links Smilodon from www. ... Image File history File links Smilodon from www. ... La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles Countys Miracle Mile District. ...

See also

• Smilodon gracilis
• Smilodon populator

Binomial name Smilodon gracilis Cope, 1880 Smilodon gracilis (the slender Smilodon) was the smallest and earliest of the smilodont machairodontine saber-toothed cats. ... Binomial name Lund, 1842 Smilodon populator (the Smilodon that brings devastation) was a machairodontine saber-toothed cat species. ...

External links

The Page Museum, home of the La Brea Tar Pits http://www.tarpits.org/

Wikispecies has information related to:

Smilodon fatalis