The saber-toothed tiger is one of the most well-known animals from the Ice Age, yet modern science still does not fully understand this large predator.
Gigantic Ice Age animals have always attracted the attention of many. Among the most famous large animals from this period, the Smilodon, also known as the saber-toothed tiger or saber-toothed cat, is the one that garners the most interest.
About 12,000 years ago, saber-toothed tigers went extinct, and while the exact reasons for this event are still unclear, it is believed that climate change may have played a role. However, many mysteries surrounding this creature remain, according to Live Science.
Measuring over 2 meters in length and standing more than 1 meter tall, some subspecies of the saber-toothed tiger could weigh up to 250 kg. From scientific research, we know that all species of Smilodon are distinct from modern cat species.
Today, saber-toothed tiger fossils are commonly found in North America, Central America, and South America. Meanwhile, the habitats of the big cats that still exist today on the North American continent have been pushed into urban areas such as Los Angeles. Therefore, we cannot be certain about what might occur if the saber-toothed tiger were still alive today. However, based on what we know, here are some potential scenarios that humans might face.
Smilodon is a genus of extinct subfamily Machairodont within the Felidae family. It is one of the most famous prehistoric mammals and the most widely known saber-toothed cat. Although commonly referred to as a saber-toothed tiger, this genus is not closely related to modern tigers or cats.
The most distinctive and noticeable feature of the saber-toothed tiger is its two elongated, serrated canine teeth that could reach up to 15 cm in length. In comparison, the canines of modern big cats are only about 5 to 7 cm long.
This indicates that the saber-toothed tiger was a formidable predator. According to fossil data, they likely hunted in an ambush style similar to modern tigers but also possessed enough speed and strength to attack other prey species, such as the North American gray wolf.
Similar in size to modern African lions, saber-toothed tigers may have preyed on bison, giant ground sloths, juvenile mammoths, horses, and camels during their era, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
It is uncertain what social behavior saber-toothed tigers exhibited—whether they were solitary like modern tigers or lived in groups like lions—but one thing is clear: these creatures were ambush predators and faced little territorial competition. As a result, they adapted to a variety of different habitats; over a thousand saber-toothed tiger fossils have been found at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.
Smilodon has a more powerful physique than any other predator in the cat family, with particularly well-developed forelimbs and elongated upper canines. Their jaws had a wider opening angle compared to modern cats, and their upper canines were quite slender, adapted for delivering precise bites.
According to The Guardian, the big cat found in Los Angeles today is the mountain lion. Although they possess a large physique, modern mountain lions are still much smaller than saber-toothed tigers.
Mountain lions are also known to be ambush predators, typically hunting deer and other smaller prey, according to the National Wildlife Federation.
However, with increasing urbanization and human development, the territorial boundaries of mountain lions and humans are gradually becoming blurred. Many mountain lions are forced to live in wildlife reserves and national parks adjacent to urban areas.
To ensure the safety of both animals and humans, cities like Los Angeles (USA) and Mumbai (India) have implemented measures to facilitate their coexistence. However, urban environments themselves pose dangers, as evidenced by the recent death of mountain lion P-22, who died after being struck by a vehicle.
The saber-toothed tiger is a formidable predator.
But what if saber-toothed tigers were still alive? Most of their large prey, such as the giant ground sloth, has gone extinct. Thus, we are also unsure whether this animal could survive on prey similar in size to that of mountain lions.
However, there is a possible hypothesis: small populations of this species might thrive in places like Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, where bison herds have rebounded. For these reasons, if saber-toothed tigers had survived, their numbers would likely be small, and their habitats would be restricted to specific areas, likely avoiding human-inhabited regions.
