Comparison of hindlimb muscle attachment sites of Smilodon fatalis, Neofelis nebulosa, and Felis catus

Abstract

Smilodon fatalis is the Rancho La Brea saber‐tooth cat with robust extremities and a short tail, and is believed to be an ambush predator. In this study, select pelvic, femoral, and tibial muscle attachment sites were determined for Smilodon fatalis based on osteological muscle scars and comparisons with muscle attachment site maps developed for Neofelis nebulosa (clouded leopard) and Felis catus (domesticated cat). Following careful dissection of several specimens of the cat and clouded leopard, the results showed that a comparison of the muscle attachment sites, proportional muscle weights, and muscle attachment site surface areas were remarkably similar. Comparison of Smilodon muscle scar locations and muscle scar surface areas with those of the cat and clouded leopard showed that all three species were also similar. Given these similarities, we are confident that our estimated recreation of the muscle attachment sites in Smilodon is reasonably accurate. In addition, we found that the attachment sites of the quadriceps femoris muscles in Smilodon had increased levels of rugosity compared to the clouded leopard and cat, supporting the concept that this animal may have been an ambush predator that required more robust muscles to leap at and grapple with prey.Grant Funding SourceNone