The predatory teeth then grew at about six millimeters per month, double that of a lion.
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The scientists have also estimated that once the fangs arrived, they grew by 6 mm every month, which is two times faster than the speed at which a modern-day lion’s teeth grow. The researchers have used isotopic analysis and x-ray imaging to find the specific ages for developmental events in Smildon fatalis-notably in their teeth.
The calculations in order to find out how a Sabre-toothed Tiger or Cat killed its prey were done at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
‘If you think about it, Smilodon fatalis likely left their paw prints on what is today Hollywood Boulevard long before Marilyn Monroe left her hand prints at the Chinese Theater, ‘ said paleontologist Z.
“Basically a lion on steroids with knives coming out of its mouth”, Dr Tseng said.
The Smilodon fatalis, one of the more well-known and studied saber-toothed cats, lived in the Americas until about 10,000 years ago.
Tseng and his colleagues including Robert Feranec reviewed fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. For extinct species, we can usually only determine the relative sequence of development events. This technique will permit the determination of absolute developmental age not only for Smilodon, but other extinct species.
Therefore, while the bite of the saber-tooth cat might have not been as powerful as previously thought, there is a large number of fossils in La Brea Tar Pits that could prove just how deadly the predator was. As their main weapon against predators and one of their only tools to tear open prey, the saber-tooth’s teeth were vital. The permanent canine teeth grew until the tiger was about three and a half years old, which is later than most other large jungle cats. In fact, the force of a Sabre-toothed Tiger’s bite may have been a third of that of a modern day tiger. The first set stopped growing at about one-and-a-half years old.
Scientists on Wednesday offered unique insight into the big cat’s most famous feature: its dagger-like upper canine teeth. This week, a new paper was published that looked at how long it took Smilodon to fully grow its trademark teeth.
During this time, the cubs would have been extremely vulnerable to the many predators that awaited a tasty cub sandwich.
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The saber-tooth felines were approximately the same size as the modern tigers or lions, but were built heavier than today’s wild cats.
