Sabre cat skeleton, Smilodon fatalis
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto, Canada
Common Name: Sabre cat skeleton
Scientific Name: Smilodon fatalis
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Image Number: ROM2007_9425_28
Description:
Smilodon probably used its sabre-like canine teeth to slash open the throats of intended prey, rather than to stab. After Smilodon cats died, their canines usually fell out. For this reason, mounted Smilodon skulls in museums have had the canine teeth re-inserted - most have been done incorrectly, making them look longer than they were in real life, for dramatic effect. We have inserted ours correctly, giving the animal's jaws a realistic gape.
- Title: Sabre cat skeleton, Smilodon fatalis
- Location: Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Physical Dimensions: 174cm (length), 53cm (width), 87cm (height)
- Period: Late Pleistocene, 12 000 years old
- Accession Number: 00020
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