Smilodon californicus
Smilodon fatalis
Smilodon gracilis
Smilodon populator
Smilodon (Latin meaning: "Knife-Tooth") is an extinct genus of large cats that lived approximately 3 million-10,000 years ago in North and South America. They are the only known successors to Machairodus. Smilodon means knife tooth—an entirely appropriate name given its enormous fangs. The smilodon species are also known as sabertooth or sabre-toothed tigers (which is inaccurate-they weren't tigers) or sabertooth cats.
Three species of Smilodon are known to have existed:
Smilodon was approximately 350 kg and had a short tail, powerful legs and a large head. About the size of a lion, smilodon was extremely powerful and about twice as heavy. Its jaws could open 95 degrees. Its fangs 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.
Smilodons in pop culture
