Within the felids, however, the stocky, muscular Smilodon fatalis is often thought of as the iconic example of a saber-toothed cat because of its extremely long canines—up to about seven inches ...

They've evolved at least five times in mammals, most notably in the saber-tooth cat Smilodon, who sported serrated sabers that could measure nearly one foot long. But behind the fearsome appearance of ...

A mechanical analysis of the distinctive canines of California's saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis) suggests that the baby tooth that preceded each saber stayed in place for years to stabilize ...

Functional optimality underpins the repeated evolution of the extreme “saber-tooth” morphology. Current Biology , 2025; DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.059 Cite This Page : ...