Saber-Toothed Tiger

Smilodon fatalis

Extinct

This animal is extinct. No living individuals remain.

The saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis was an extinct Ice Age predator with long upper canine teeth. The familiar name saber-toothed tiger is informal; it was a different cat lineage from living tigers.

Saber-Toothed Tiger, AI-generated lifelike reconstruction — AI-generated reconstruction. Colors and soft tissues are interpretive.

At a glance

Diet: Carnivore
Food: Other animals.

Classification

Common name: Saber-Toothed Tiger
Browse group: Mammals
Scientific name or taxon: Smilodon fatalis
Taxon rank: species
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Smilodon
Source classification: Mammalia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

Its long upper teeth were enlarged canines.
Its forelimbs were exceptionally robust.
La Brea preserves many examples.

Habitat and range

Smilodon fatalis lived in North and Central America and parts of western South America during the Pleistocene. The La Brea deposits preserve abundant remains, whereas Florida records are much rarer.

Appearance and adaptations

Long upper canines and a robust skeleton distinguish the cat from modern big cats. Studies of limb bones indicate particularly strong forelimbs, an important clue to how it controlled prey.

Diet and behaviour

It ate other animals, but precise killing techniques and the extent of social behaviour remain debated. The Florida Museum treats older names including Smilodon californicus and Smilodon floridanus as synonyms of Smilodon fatalis.

Sources

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