Saber-toothed tigers, specifically Smilodon fatalis, were found to have two sets of famous fangs during their adolescence, according to fossil evidence. Over 2,000 skulls of these ancient cats were discovered at the La Brea Tar Pits near Los Angeles, establishing them as California’s state fossil. Many of these skulls were found with double fangs, which were initially thought to be a fluke. However, it was revealed that these sabers may have had their baby tooth counterparts for several years during their maturing process, potentially aiding in their ability to hunt without breaking their sabers.
The baby teeth in saber-toothed tigers, such as Smilodon fatalis, may have helped stabilize the growing adult sabers, according to a recent study. This process, where the baby tooth preceded the adult saber tooth for an extended period, allowed the adolescent cats to learn how to hunt without risking damage to their sabers. This phenomenon was observed in a few La Brea saber-toothed cat skulls, indicating that it was a regular part of their maturing process. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of tooth development and shedding in other species, including humans.
Smilodon fatalis, along with other species of saber-toothed cats, lived during the Pleistocene epoch and were known for their long, curved canine teeth that could grow up to 7 inches long. These teeth were adapted to deliver fatal blows to their prey, which likely included large herbivores such as bison, camels, and young mammoths. The researchers suggest that these cats may have had both their baby and adult saber teeth simultaneously for approximately 30 months during adolescence, before the baby tooth fell out leaving only the adult fang.
The researchers modeled the strength of the growing saber tooth and tested the strength of plastic model teeth to understand the role of the milk tooth in stabilizing the saber tooth. They propose that the milk tooth helped to protect the growing adult saber from lateral breakage during its eruption. This development in saber-toothed cats may have evolved in other species as well, although no examples have been discovered in the fossil record. The presence of both milk and adult saber teeth may have influenced how these cats hunted during their adolescent and adult years.
This new understanding of saber-toothed tiger tooth development and maturation changes the way researchers think about how these cats hunted during different stages of their life. It suggests that the sabers may have been more vulnerable after the milk tooth fell out, leading the cats to rely more on stealth or strength when overpowering their prey. The prolonged presence of both baby and adult sabers allows for a larger range of protection, potentially giving the adolescent cats room to experiment and take risks as they learned how to be fully grown predators. This study opens up new avenues for research and further understanding of the mechanics of saber-toothed cats’ hunting strategies and tooth development.
