Tag Archives: SaberToothed

Paleontologists Uncover a New Species of Massive Saber-Toothed Tiger

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A novel genus and species of mid-Oligocene nimuravid has been identified from fossil remains unearthed in northern China. This finding enhances our understanding of Nimurabiidae in eastern Eurasia.

Reimagining the life of Taotienimravus songi in a Chinese painting style. Image credit: Yuefeng Song.

Taotienimravus songi inhabited what is now China during the mid-Oligocene period, around 28 million years ago.

This ancient species is part of the Nimuravidae family, an extinct group of saber-toothed hypercarnivores, often referred to as pseudosaber-toothed cats.

“Carnivora demonstrates the broadest range in body sizes among mammals, with the smallest weasel weighing roughly 50 g. Pinnipeds average over 3 tons,” stated Dr. Qigao Jiangzuo of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“With few exceptions, such as the bear family, large terrestrial carnivores, particularly those exceeding 20 kg, generally maintain a macrocarnivorous diet, targeting large prey of similar size or larger.”

“Often called pseudosabertooths, the Nimurabiidae represents one of the earliest diverging lineages within the Carnivora order, noted for their large size, hypercarnivorous craniodental features, and potentially macrocarnivorous behaviors,” the researchers added.

“The earliest fossils from this family, dating back to the mid-Eocene, belonged to highly specialized species exhibiting cat-like craniodental characteristics.”

“Nimuravidae underwent radiation during the Eocene to Oligocene, with the best-preserved specimens found primarily in North America, where numerous skulls and complete skeletons have been discovered.”

“Eurasia also contains numerous fossil remains, though they tend to be poorly preserved.”

“As the first lineage within Carnivora to develop large body sizes, this family is an excellent model for studying the evolution of early large carnivorous niches in an environmental context vastly different from that of today.”

The skeletal remains of Taotienimravus songi were discovered in the Qingshuiying Formation in northern China.

Specimen analysis indicates that this new species uniquely displays non-saber-toothed morphology with bone-cracking adaptations within the Nimuravidae family.

This animal likely engaged in a killing behavior distinct from other feline carnivores, possibly employing a tearing bite akin to that of hyenas.

“The defining characteristics of the new Nimuravid include exceptionally short and robust upper canine teeth along with a notably wide palatal area,” the paleontologists noted.

“The rostrum is exceedingly wide, probably the widest of any known Nimravid.”

“In contrast to many feline carnivores, the premolars do not diminish in size; rather, they increase, eliminating the gap between the canines and cheek teeth.”

“This contrasts with most feline carnivores, which almost invariably exhibit diastema.”

“We interpret this absence of a gap as an indicator of a strong canine bite, allowing for deep penetration into prey.”

Phylogenetic analysis positions Taotienimravus songi within the Nimravinae, creating a sister lineage to those in Europe and North America, such as Nimravus and Dinahelurus.

This clade shares a close relation to the European lineage encompassing Iofelis, Denailictis, and Quercyllus.

“The increase in size within Nimuravidae seems to align with the extinction of another carnivorous group, Oxyaenidae, during the Paleogene,” the researchers stated.

“The initial emergence of large carnivorous traits within the Carnivora order likely reflects competitive interactions driven by ecomorphic dynamics.”

“Nimuravidae effectively occupied ecological niches unavailable to Felidae, probably due to the lack of competition within Carnivora for much of their evolutionary history.”

“This study emphasizes the impact of both abiotic and biotic factors in shaping niche availability for these animals and underscores the need to discuss niche evolution and change within this framework.”

A study detailing this discovery was published on November 26, 2025, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

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Qigao Jiangzuo et al. 2025. A new ecomorph of the Nimravidae and the exploration of early large carnivores within the order Carnivora. Proc Biol Sci 292 (2059): 20251686; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2025.1686

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient 29-Million-Year-Old Footprints of a ‘Saber-Toothed Cat’ Found in Oregon

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Paleontologists have unearthed fossil footprints from both invertebrates and vertebrates, dating back between 500,000 and 25 million years, including a faux Saber Tooth cat (Nimravid).

Nimravid footprints from the John Day Formation in Oregon, USA. Image credit: NP.

John Day Fossil Bed National Monument (Joda) is renowned in central and eastern Oregon for its ancient mammalian fossils.

Paleontologists indicate that these specimens provide a nearly continuous 50 million-year record of mammalian evolution.

Within the Joda, four geological layers are identified: Clarno (50-39 million years), John Day (31-25 million years), Muscoll (16-12 million years), and rattlesnakes (8-6 million years).

The recently uncovered footprints belong to the Clarno and John Day layers.

“These footprints reveal intriguing behaviors and species previously undocumented in the extensive fossil records of the monument,” the researchers stated.

The series of footprints in the 29 million-year-old volcanic ash layer of the John Day Formation may have been created by Nimravid, a saber-toothed predator comparable in size to a bobcat, Hoplophoneus.

The absence of nail marks supports the notion of retractable nails, akin to modern-day felines.

Additionally, three round hoof prints of the same age likely belong to large herbivores, such as ancient tapirs and rhinoceroses.

Two small bird impressions, as well as a beak mark and an invertebrate trail, were found in the Clarno Formation.

These findings suggest ancient shorebirds were foraging for food in shallow waters.

Connor Bennett, a paleontologist at Utah Institute of Technology, remarked:

“It’s captivating; such a long duration for a species to maintain foraging patterns as seen in its ancestors.”

Within the same layer, scientists discovered an unusual fossil track featuring scattered toe impressions.

This indicates that lizards breaking through the lakebed represent one of the few known reptile trajectories from this period in North America.

“These tracks provide a unique window into ancient ecosystems,” stated Dr. Nicholas Famoso, Joda’s paleontology program manager.

“They add behavioral context to the body fossils amassed over the years, enhancing our understanding of prehistoric Oregon’s climate and environmental conditions.”

“Fossil tracks not only confirm the presence of these animals but also reveal their lifestyles,” Bennett added.

The team’s survey results will be published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

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Connor J. Bennett et al. 2025. Following their footsteps: Reports of vertebrate fossil tracks from John Day Fossil Bed National Monument, Oregon, USA. Palaeontologia Electronica 28(1): A11; doi: 10.26879/1502

Source: www.sci.news

How have saber-toothed animals evolved multiple times?

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saber-toothed tiger skull (Smilodon)

steve morton

Predators have evolved saber teeth many times throughout the history of life. And now we have a better understanding of why these teeth develop the way they do.

Saber teeth have very special characteristics. Very long, sharp canine teeth that tend to be slightly flat and curved rather than round. Such teeth have evolved independently at least five times in different groups of mammals, and fossils of saber-toothed tiger predators have been found in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

These teeth were first known to appear in mammal-like reptiles called gorgonopsians about 270 million years ago. Another example is Thylacosmiluswhich became extinct about 2.5 million years ago and was most closely related to marsupials. Saber teeth were last seen Smilodonoften referred to as the saber-toothed tiger, existed until about 10,000 years ago.

To find out why these teeth continued to re-evolve, Talia Pollock and colleagues from the University of Bristol, UK, examined the canine teeth of 95 species of carnivorous mammals, including 25 species of saberodonts.

First, the researchers measured, classified, and modeled the shape of the teeth. They then 3D printed a smaller version of each tooth in metal and tested its performance in a puncture test in which the teeth were mechanically pushed into a gelatin block designed to mimic the density of animal tissue.

This showed that the saber teeth could drill into the block with up to 50% less force than the other teeth, Pollock said.

The researchers then evaluated the tooth shape and puncture performance data using a measure called the Pareto rank ratio. This determines how optimal the tooth is in terms of strength or puncture.

“Carnivores’ teeth need to be sharp and thin enough to pierce the flesh of their prey, but they also need to be blunt and strong so they don’t break when the animal bites,” Pollock says.

i like animals Smilodon It had very long saber teeth. “These teeth probably appeared over and over again because they’re the perfect design for puncture,” Pollock says. “They’re very good at drilling holes, but that also means they’re a little more fragile.” For example, California’s La Brea tar pits have Smilodonsome broken tooth.

Other saberodonts also had teeth shaped ideally for slightly different tasks. cat Dino Feliz According to Pollock, they had squatter saber teeth for a more even balance of sting and strength.

The teeth of other saber-toothed species fall between these optimal shapes, which may be why some saber-toothed teeth did not last very long. “These are trade-offs,” Pollock said. “Aspects of the shape of your teeth make you good at some things and bad at others.”

One of the leading theories as to why the saber-toothed tiger species went extinct is that the ecosystem changed and the large prey that the saber-toothed species, such as mammoths, were thought to have gone after disappeared.

The team’s blowout findings support this. Giant teeth would not have been as effective in catching prey as large as rabbits, and the risk of tooth breakage here may have increased, making saber-tooths more effective prey. would have been defeated by someone. Pollock says it’s difficult to hunt prey like cats with small teeth.

“As ecological and environmental conditions changed, highly specialized saber-toothed tiger predators quickly became unable to adapt and went extinct.” Stefan Lautenschlager At the University of Birmingham, UK.

“I think that’s part of the reason why this saber-toothed form hasn’t evolved again now. We don’t have megafauna,” he says. Julie Michen At Des Moines University, Iowa. “The prey isn’t there.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

An ancient saber-toothed predator roamed 270 million years ago

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Reconstruction of the oldest known gorgonopsian

henry sutherland sharpe

The earliest known sabertooths hunted large prey 270 million years ago. The newly discovered remains could help explain how early mammal relatives became warm-blooded animals.

The first land predators usually hunted relatively small prey. But things changed about 273 million years ago, when an event known as the Olson extinction shook ecosystems around the world. Then, much larger terrestrial herbivores began to appear, and predators needed new weapons to dispatch such large prey. Josep Fortuny At the Miquel Cursafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology, Barcelona, ​​Spain.

This may help explain why the fossilized partial skeleton of an ancient predator that Fortuny and his colleagues just discovered on the Spanish island of Mallorca had saber-shaped teeth. These fangs are better suited for injuring larger prey than for grabbing and holding small animals. “This was the first time we had access to this kind of tool for preying on herbivores,” Fortuny said.

Dating back an estimated 270 million years, this predator is the oldest known member of a group of carnivores known as gorgonopsians, all of whom had saber-shaped teeth. The largest gorgonopsids grew to several meters in length, with canine teeth reaching 15 centimeters in length. The Mallorca gorgonopsian was smaller, measuring about 1 meter long and its canine teeth only 5 centimeters long. Fortuny said researchers are waiting to name the new gorgonopsian until they have analyzed the bones and teeth in more detail.

Ancient predators are important not only because of their age. At the time they roamed Mallorca, the island was part of a tropical supercontinent called Pangea, but all known fossils of gorgonopsids date back 270 million years. They come from areas of the world that were at high latitudes. The new discovery suggests that the gorgonopsian actually originated near the equator.

Perhaps adaptations developed there, such as the ability to efficiently hunt large prey, may have allowed them to regulate their body temperature in order to spread into cooler habitats away from the equator.

Fortuny says it’s important to better understand this process because gorgonopsids belonged to the therapsids, a group of animals that also includes mammals. “There’s a lot of debate about the first steps in thermoregulation in this group,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

First-ever examination of a frozen mummy of a Saber-toothed tiger dating back 35,000 years

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Attention all ‘Ice Age’ enthusiasts: New research has uncovered the preserved remains of a 35,000-year-old saber-toothed cat which have been analyzed for the very first time. Published on Thursday in Scientific Reports.

The mummified remains of the animal, including parts of the head, arms, and chest, were unearthed in Yakutia, Russia, in 2020 in remarkably good condition, and were determined to belong to a three-week-old baby, as per the study findings.

The most distinct features of the cub were its small ears, long neck and forearms, dark brown fur, and wide mouth, according to the researchers. Comparison with modern lion cubs of the same age suggests that these cat mummies are part of the Machairodontinae subfamily, specifically the Homotherium genus – a cat with sharply curved saber teeth that thrived in North America and Europe between 12 million and 10,000 years ago.

A. shows a frozen mummy and B. shows the remains of a modern lion cub, Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758).Lopatin, AV, Sotnikova, MV, Klimovsky, AI, and others

Based on the study, the Homotherium cat’s ears were positioned higher on the skull and its mouth opening was 11-19% larger compared to modern lion cubs. Additionally, the neck was described as “longer and more than twice as thick” than that of present-day felines.

For those who enjoy the Ice Age film series, the depiction of saber-toothed cats might seem familiar. The character Diego, a saber-toothed tiger, shares similarities with the 35,000-year-old baby tiger.

This study marks the first investigation of this kind of site.

“For the first time in paleontological history, the characteristics of an extinct mammal with no modern counterparts have been examined,” noted the study authors.

Attempts to reach the study’s corresponding author for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

New research indicates that saber-toothed cats retained their baby teeth to support their iconic sabers.

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new analysis of distinctive canine teeth saber-toothed tiger (Smilodon Fatalis) The deciduous teeth that precede each saber (the deciduous teeth that all mammals grow and lose by adulthood) remain in place for years to stabilize the growing permanent saber teeth, and perhaps adolescents break them off. This suggests that it was possible to learn how to hunt without having to hunt.

The canines of saber-toothed predators are among the most specialized tooth structures known. Hypotheses regarding the function of enlarged dogs range from exhibition and conspecific interactions, processing of soft foods to active prey acquisition. Recent studies on the ontogenetic timing of cranial traits have shown that adult dogs may take many years to fully erupt, but long-term implications for inferences of functional morphology in dogs. The impact of the eruption is missing from current discussions and remains unquantified. In his new study, Tseng evaluates hypotheses regarding bending strength and stiffness, respectively, in adult dogs during rash. Smilodon Fatalis. Image credit: Massimo Molinello.

This new study provides the first evidence that saber teeth alone were increasingly vulnerable to lateral breakage during eruption, but would have been more stable if they had primary or deciduous teeth next to them. .

The evidence consists of computer modeling of the strength and lateral bending stiffness of the saber tooth, as well as actual testing and failure of a plastic model of the saber tooth.

“This new study is confirmation through physical and simulation tests of an idea that several collaborators and I published several years ago. It is possible that the timing of the saber ejection is adjusted and the double fang phase “It's possible,” he said. Study author Dr. Jack Tseng is a paleontologist at the University of California, Berkeley.

“Imagine a timeline where the milk canine comes out, and once it finishes erupting, the permanent canine comes out, overtakes the milk canine, and eventually pushes out the milk canine.”

“What would happen if this baby tooth was in the mouth right next to this permanent tooth for 30 months?”

“Long after the saber's permanent teeth erupted, the baby dog's unusual presence protected it, while the adult tiger learned how to hunt without damaging the saber.”

“Eventually, the baby teeth will fall out and the adult will have learned how to use the saber, but they will lose the support of the saber.”

Paleontologists still don't know what saber-tooth preferences are Smilodon He hunted his prey without breaking his unwieldy saber.

Dr Tseng said: “The double fang stage is probably worth revisiting now that we have shown there is insurance potential and broader protection.”

“This allows our teenage equivalents to experiment, take risks, and essentially learn how to become fully grown, perfect predators.”

“If you look at sabertooth use and increased hunting through a mechanical lens, I think it's not a solution, but it's a refinement.”

The same canine stabilization system may have evolved in other saber-toothed animals, researchers say.

Although no examples of double tusks in other species have been found in the fossil record, some skulls have been found to have adult teeth elsewhere in the jaw and deciduous teeth where the saber grows. has been done.

“What we are seeing is that milk canines are preserved in specimens with adult dentition. This means that the adult teeth, the sabers, are erupting or are beginning to erupt. “This suggests that milk canines were retained over a long period of time,” Dr. Tseng said.

of study Published in anatomical record.

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Z. Jack Tseng.Changes in bending performance during long-term eruption of saber gingival canine teeth: a case study. Smilodon Fatalis. anatomical record, published online on April 8, 2024. doi: 10.1002/ar.25447

Source: www.sci.news

Recent study uncovers prehistoric salmon with fang-like teeth akin to a “saber-toothed tiger”

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An extinct species of giant salmon called Oncorhynchus lastrosus They boasted a pair of front teeth that protruded like fangs from the sides of their mouths, according to new research.

Oncorhynchus lastrosus: (A) CT model of the holotype. (B) Holotype seen from the front of the skull, before complete preparation and CT scanning. (C) Artist-rendered male iconic fish skull with accurate spike-tooth configuration. (D) Artist's rendering of a complete female iconic fish with precise spike tooth configuration. Scale bar blocks – 1 cm each.Image credit: Clairson other., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300252.

Oncorhynchus lastrosus It lived along the Pacific coast of North America (California, Oregon, and Washington) about 11 million to 5 million years ago.

This extinct species was first described in the 1970s from fossils discovered in the freshwater Gateway locality of the Madras Formation near the town of Gateway, Jefferson County, Oregon.

The fish was 2.4 to 2.7 meters (7.9 to 8.9 feet) long and weighed, by some estimates, close to 177 kilograms (400 pounds), making it the largest known member of its family. Salmonidae To live forever.

This species migrated from the Pacific Ocean to inland rivers to spawn, much like salmon today. And it was placophagous based on its numerous gill rakes and few small teeth.

but Oncorhynchus lastrosus It had two upper teeth, 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.

Initially, paleontologists thought that these oversized teeth were oriented backwards in the mouth, like fangs, mainly because the tooth fossils were found separated from the rest of the skull. was. This led to the common name “saber-toothed tiger.”

However, through new CT scans and various analyses, Oncorhynchus lastrosus Using fossils collected over the years, Professor Kellyn Cresson of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and her colleagues were able to confirm that the fish's teeth did indeed point sideways out of its mouth, like a warthog.

“As a result, this species should be renamed 'spine-toothed salmon,'” the paleontologists said.

“It is unclear exactly what these teeth were used for, but it is likely that they were used for fighting other spiny-toothed salmon, for defense against natural predators, or as tools for digging nests. ”

“It is also possible that the teeth were used for multiple purposes,” the researchers added.

“However, the teeth were probably not used to capture prey. Oncorhynchus lastrosus It is believed that it was a filter feeder that fed on plankton. ”

“We've known for decades that these extinct salmon in Central Oregon were the largest of all time. Discoveries like ours mean they're probably more than just gentle giants. It shows that there was no such thing,” Professor Cresson said.

“The giant spines on the tips of their snouts would have helped them protect themselves from predators, compete with other salmon, and eventually build nests to incubate their eggs.”

“We are pleased to be able to give a new face to the giant spiny salmon and bring knowledge from the Oregon field to the world,” said University of Oregon researcher and director Dr. Edward Davis. Condon Collection, University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

“We also emphasize that females and males alike had huge fang-like teeth. So both sexes were equally terrifying,” said Professor Brian Sidlauskas, curator of fishes at Oregon State University. said.

team's result It was published in the magazine PLoS ONE.

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KM watercress other. 2024. From the saber to the spike: Reconstruction of an ancient giant sexually dimorphic Pacific salmon from a new angle. Oncorhynchus lastrosus (Salmonidae: Salmonini). PLoS ONE 19 (4): e0300252; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300252

Source: www.sci.news

The Saber-Toothed Cat and the Direwolf: Prehistoric Predators

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Researchers found high rates of osteochondrosis in the joints of Ice Age saber-toothed tigers and dire wolves, based on more than 1,500 limb bones examined from the La Brea Tar Pits. This study suggests a potential link between the health problems of these ancient species and those of modern livestock. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Studies have found that the incidence of osteochondrosis in these extinct predators is surprisingly high.

Ice Age saber-toothed tigers and direwolves had higher rates of bone disease in their joints, according to a recent study published in an open access journal. Pro Swan By Hugo Schmökel and colleagues at the Evidencia Academy in Sweden.

Ancient species of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a developmental bone disease known to affect joints. vertebrateincluding humans and various domestic animals. seed. However, the disease is not well documented in wild species, and published cases are extremely rare. In this study, Schmökel and colleagues identified signs of the disease in fossil limb bones of Ice Age saber-toothed tigers. (Smilodon fatalis) and dire wolf (Aenosion Dyras) Approximately 55,000 to 12,000 years ago.

Reconstructed photo of a dire wolf on display at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum. Credit: La Brea Tar Pits and Los Angeles County Museum and Natural History Museum; CC-BY 4.0

Research results from the La Brea Tar Pits

Researchers examined more than 1,000 limb bones of saber-toothed tigers and 500 limb bones of dire wolves taken from the late Pleistocene La Brea Tar Pits, and found that many bones contained dissecting bones. They discovered small defects that matched certain symptoms of a bone disease called osteochondrosis (OCD). These defects were primarily found in the shoulder and knee joints, and their incidence was as high as 7% of the bones examined, significantly higher than that observed in extant species.

Implications and future research

Because this study was limited to bones isolated from a single fossil locality, further research on other fossil sites will reveal patterns of prevalence of the disease and from there provide insight into the lives of these animals. aspects may be clarified. For example, it remains unclear whether problems with these joints hindered the hunting ability of these predators. Additionally, OCD is common in highly inbred modern domestic dogs, so the high incidence of this disease in these fossil animals could be a sign that populations are declining as these ancient species approach extinction. It may be.

Detail of a 1911 illustration of a saber-toothed cat in the La Brea Tar Pits. Credit: Robert Bruce Horsfall & Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; CC-BY 4.0

Connection with modern animals

The authors add: “The study adds: Smilodon Direwolf paleopathology made possible by La Brea Tar Pits & Museum’s unparalleled large sample size. This collaborative research between paleontologists and veterinarians shows that these animals, despite having survived harsh times and are now extinct large predators, share diseases with the dogs and cats in our homes today. It confirms what I was holding. ”

Reference: “Subchondral defects resembling osteochondrosis dissecans in the articular surfaces of the extinct saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis and the dire wolf Aenocyon dyrus,” by Hugo Schmökel, Aisling Farrell, and Mairin F. Balisi. July 12, 2023 Pro Swan.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287656

Source: scitechdaily.com