Up next in 10
Smilodon (Saber Toothed Cat) Prehistoric big cat
Aug 3, 2025
All about the different types of animals in the world. Marine Life, African animals, land creatures, sea creatures, mammals, ocean. animals, insects, snakes, lions, elephants, spiders, whales, sharks, dolphins, octopus, reef, fish, dangerous creatures, poisonous creatures, ants, animal habitat, birds, cheetah, leopard, jaquar, predators, killer whales
View Video Transcript
0:00
Smileodon,
0:01
also known as the saber-tooth cat, was a
0:03
prehistoric big cat that lived during
0:05
the pleaene epic, which lasted from
0:07
about 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago.
0:11
It was a powerful predator that had a
0:12
distinctive set of long and curved
0:14
saber-like canine teeth. Welcome to my
0:16
channel with Malcolm Walker. These teeth
0:18
were its most striking feature and are
0:20
the reason why it is commonly referred
0:22
to as the saber-tooth cat. The canines
0:25
could grow up to 11 in in length and
0:27
were so long that they were impractical
0:29
for everyday use. Instead, smileon only
0:33
used them to deliver a fatal bite to its
0:35
prey, which consisted of large mammals
0:37
such as bison or mammoths. The smileon
0:40
was a true apex predator. Sitting at the
0:43
top of the food chain in its ecosystem,
0:45
it was the largest cat in its habitat
0:47
and was feared by all who encountered
0:49
it. Its fur was short and sleek, which
0:51
helped to reduce weight and increase
0:53
agility. Its tail was long and bushy,
0:55
which helped to balance its body while
0:57
running. Despite its size, the smileon
1:00
was a graceful and agile hunter. It
1:03
could run at speeds of up to 40 m hour
1:05
and could jump over obstacles twice as
1:07
tall as it was. When hunting, it would
1:10
use its powerful forlims to take down
1:12
its prey. And then it would use its long
1:15
and sharp canines to deliver a fatal
1:17
bite to the neck or chest. This hunting
1:20
technique was highly effective and
1:22
ensured that the smileon was able to
1:24
take down even the largest of prey. One
1:27
of the most remarkable things about the
1:28
smileon is the way it used its
1:30
saber-like teeth. Unlike modern cats,
1:33
which used their teeth for both hunting
1:35
and grooming, the smileon's teeth were
1:37
only used for hunting. They were so long
1:40
and curved that they were impractical
1:41
for everyday use and actually posed a
1:44
risk to the cat's own safety. If the
1:46
smileon was not careful, these teeth
1:49
could easily get damaged or broken.
1:52
To prevent this, the smileon had
1:55
developed a special technique for using
1:56
its teeth. When it would attack its
1:59
prey, it would first use its paws to
2:01
hold the animal down, and then it would
2:02
use its teeth to deliver a single swift
2:05
killing bite. After the prey was
2:07
subdued, the smileon would then shake
2:09
its head rapidly from side to side to
2:12
remove any teeth that may have become
2:14
dislodged during the fight.
2:16
Smileodon was an ambush predator that
2:17
preferred to hunt in the morning or
2:19
evening. It stalked its prey silently
2:21
and then pounced when it was close
2:22
enough. It would often target animals
2:25
that were drinking water or those that
2:27
were separated from their herd. Once it
2:29
had made its kill, it would drag the
2:31
carcass to a secluded area where it
2:33
could eat in peace. Smileon was a
2:36
solitary creature and only came together
2:38
during mating season. Females gave birth
2:40
to one or two cubs after a gestation
2:42
period of around 3 months. The cubs
2:45
stayed with their mother for up to two
2:46
years and were nursed for around 9
2:48
months. During this time, they learned
2:51
how to hunt and survive in the wild.
2:53
Sadly, the smileon went extinct around
2:56
10,000 years ago.
2:58
This was likely due to a combination of
3:00
factors, including climate change and
3:02
competition with other predators. The
3:05
end of the pleaene epoch marked a
3:07
significant shift in global climate
3:09
leading to the formation of glaciers and
3:11
a decrease in temperatures. This caused
3:14
many species, including the smileon to
3:16
go extinct. Additionally, the emergence
3:19
of new predators such as wolves and
3:21
humans may have contributed to the
3:23
decline of the smileon population.
3:26
Today, the smileon is remembered as one
3:28
of the most fearsome predators that ever
3:29
lived. Its impressive skull and
3:32
saber-like teeth have been the subject
3:34
of many scientific studies and popular
3:36
culture references. While there is no
3:39
evidence that Smileodon still exists
3:41
today, its legacy as a powerful and
3:43
iconic creature continues to live on. If
3:47
you liked this video, be sure to hit the
3:49
like button and subscribe for more
3:51
amazing videos. You can also leave a
3:53
comment below with any suggestions for
3:55
future videos you'd like to see. Thanks
3:58
for watching.
#Paleontology
#Pets & Animals
#Wildlife