Smilodon Tooth - Fossil Replica
Smilodon, also called "Saber-tooth Tiger", was a frightening meat eater belonging to the family Machairodontidae which lived in the Pleistocene. Its most important features were two long canine teeth, up to 8 inches, and large mouth which could open more that 95 degrees, which is much more than a modern lion. It was easy for this huge mouth to hold its prey, generally mammoths and bison. The huge sabers caused it to chew with difficulty: because of this it preferred to eat the guts and the blood of its victims rather than their meat. The muscles of its neck and shoulders were very strong, helping it push its big head forward, and its tail was quite small.