Abstract
Smilodon fatalis is a large extinct sabertooth cat with a paradoxically fragile mandible. Smilodon crania (n=3) and mandibles (n=4) were compared to Panthera tigris (tiger, n=4) a cat known to use tracheal obstruction during prey attack. Smilodon maxillary canines were longer than those of Tigris (19.2 ± 1.1 vs 6.4 ± 1.1 cm; P<0.001), but had diminutive mandibular canines suggesting the mandible was not used to bite or actively hold prey. Mandibular cross‐sectional area anterior to the first premolar tooth of Smilodon (6.8 ± 3.8 cm2) was significantly less (P<0.04) than Tigris (12.1 ± 1.8 cm2) suggestive of fragility. Distance from mandibular canine tip to condyle distance indexed to cross sectional area for Smilodon and Tigris (4.8 ± 2.1 and 2.4 ± 0.5; P<0.07) also indicates fragility. Smilodon canines were sensitive to fracture with lateral torsion and the narrow mandible would be prone to fracture by prey hooves during sustained strangulation. Smilodon maxillary canine gap was easily sufficient to straddle the ribs of large herbivorous prey (i.e. Bison), which have a partial mediastinum and propensity for bilateral pneumothorax. Therefore, Smilodon probably delivered maximal force at the maxillary canine tip with its mandible fully retracted (closed) and sternum as the point of fulcrum to create deep paired thoracic wall punctures and uni‐ or bilateral pneumothorax.
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