Dinosaurs

Smilodon Fatalis Skeleton (Sabertooth Cat). San Diego Natural History Museum.

Smilodon, is an extinct genus of machairodont felid. It is perhaps the best known saber-toothed cat and lived in North America during the Pleistocene epoch (2.5 mya—10,000 years ago). Several fossils have been found with one of the largest collections taken from the La Brea Tar Pits. Three species of the genus are known and they vary in size and build. The nickname "saber-tooth" refers to the extreme length of their maxillary canines. Despite the colloquial name "saber-toothed tiger", Smilodon is not closely related to the tiger.
Smilodon_SDHM130801 © Don Tibbits

smilodon fatalissmilodonfatalismachairodont felidmachairodontfelidpleistocenefossilsla brea tar pitssabertoothcatsan diego natural history museumsan diegonaturalhistorymuseumcaliforniausaanimalsextinctsouthwestartanthropologyphotographyphotographspaleontologyarcheologydinosaurdinosaursresearch curators