saber-toothed cats
Ice Age predators
Saber-toothed cats were prehistoric predators distinguished by their elongated, blade-like upper canine teeth, which in some species reached eight inches.
Despite the name, they weren't closely related to modern cats—several unrelated carnivore lineages evolved similar teeth independently.
The most famous, *Smilodon*, roamed the Americas until roughly 10,000 years ago.
Often called saber-toothed tigers, though they weren't tigers.
Extended global freeze
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- mammothsExtinct woolly elephants
- mastodonsExtinct elephant-like mammals
- woolly rhinocerosExtinct furry horned herbivore
La Brea Tar Pits · glaciation · permafrost · tundra · steppe · Beringia · dire wolves · cave bear
Study of ancient organisms
- SmilodonExtinct long-fanged feline genus
- excavationAct of unearthing
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
- skullHead's bone casing
canines · fossilization · sediments · preservation · reconstruction · museum · specimen · articulated
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- huntPursuit of quarry
- preyAnimal being hunted
stalking · pounce · claws · fangs · canines · bite force · pack hunting · solitary
Strong and durable
- retractable clawsNails that withdraw into paws
- powerful jawsStrong biting apparatus
- gapeStare with mouth ajar
- dentitionOral tooth arrangement
stocky build · short tail · forelimbs · skeletal · mandible · felid
Spanish male given name
- museum displaysArtifacts arranged for viewing
- natural historyStudy of organisms and environments
- paleoartImagery of vanished species
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
No longer existing
- HoloceneCurrent geological epoch
- overhuntingExcessive wildlife killing
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
Paleo-Indians · population collapse · last survivors · terminal · paleoecology
Ice Age
Extended global freeze
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- mammothsExtinct woolly elephants
- mastodonsExtinct elephant-like mammals
woolly rhinoceros · La Brea Tar Pits · glaciation · permafrost · tundra · steppe · Beringia · dire wolves · cave bear · Paleolithic
paleontology
Study of ancient organisms
- SmilodonExtinct long-fanged feline genus
- excavationAct of unearthing
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
skull · canines · fossilization · sediments · preservation · reconstruction · museum · specimen · articulated · amber
apex predator
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
prey · stalking · pounce · claws · fangs · canines · bite force · pack hunting · solitary · territory
robust
Strong and durable
- retractable clawsNails that withdraw into paws
- powerful jawsStrong biting apparatus
- gapeStare with mouth ajar
dentition · stocky build · short tail · forelimbs · skeletal · mandible · felid
Diego
Spanish male given name
- museum displaysArtifacts arranged for viewing
- natural historyStudy of organisms and environments
- paleoartImagery of vanished species
reconstruction · Flintstones · fantasy art · toys · collectibles
extinct
No longer existing
- HoloceneCurrent geological epoch
- overhuntingExcessive wildlife killing
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
habitat loss · Paleo-Indians · population collapse · last survivors · terminal · paleoecology
- Ice Ageice age, mammoths, mammoth, woolly mammoth, Pleistocene
- extinct creaturesdinosaurs, trilobites, ammonites, mammoths, pterosaurs
- fossilsdinosaur bones, ammonite, amber, ammonites, fossils
- prehistoric lifedinosaur, dinosaurs, triceratops, Velociraptor, velociraptor
- paleontologydinosaurs, fossil, paleontology, fossil record, dinosaur bones
- CenozoicPaleocene, Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Holocene