2006-10-13 07:02:11 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Smilodon (a bahuvrihi from Greek: σμιλη "knife" and (Ionic) οδων "tooth") is an extinct genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that are understood to have lived between approximately 3 million to 10,000 years ago in North and South America. They are the only known successors to Machairodus. Smilodon means knife tooth, an entirely appropriate name given its enormous fangs. The smilodon species are also known as Saber-Toothed Cats or Saber-Toothed Tigers [1].
As many as six species of Smilodon are known to have existed:
* Smilodon fatalis, 1.6 million-10,000 years ago
* Smilodon gracilis, 2.5 million-500,000 years ago
* Smilodon populator, 1 million-10,000 years ago
* Smilodon neogaeus, 3 million-500,000 years ago
* Smilodon floridus, may be a subspecies of Smilodon fatalis
* Smilodon californicus, may be a subspecies of Smilodon fatalis.
A fully-grown Smilodon weighed approximately 200 kilograms (450 pounds) and had a short tail, powerful legs and a large head. About the size of a lion, smilodon was extremely powerful. Its jaws could open 120 degrees. Its fangs were about 17 cm (7 inches) long.
Many Smilodon fossils have been unearthed at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. The Smilodon is the prehistoric cat that researchers know the most about.
2006-10-13 07:04:46 · answer #1 · answered by Kate 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Europe, Asia, Africa, North America.
2006-10-13 07:14:02 · answer #2 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Worldwide
2006-10-13 21:30:49 · answer #3 · answered by nalaredneb 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Disneyland
2006-10-13 07:04:52 · answer #4 · answered by Pauline 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Europe and Asia
2006-10-13 10:41:15 · answer #5 · answered by Azul 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋