Machairodontinae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Machairodontinae |
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| Mounted fossil skeleton of a Smilodon fatalis, National Museum of Natural History | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | †Machairodontinae Gill, 1872 |
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The Machairodontinae are a sister group of the felines (Felinae). They were the last surviving group of sabre–toothed cats.
They are an extinct subfamily of mammalian carnivora of the family Felidae (true cats). They lived in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe from the Miocene to the Pleistocene. They survived from about 23 million until about 11,000 years ago.
The subfamily Machairodontinae included the famed genus Smilodon. There were also other cats with canines which were not so long, such as Homotherium. The sabretooth adaptation evolved a number of times in different carnivore lines. They were evidently very successful as ambush predators.
Images for kids
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A male Amphimachairodus giganteus was one of the largest machairodonts. It dwarfs its modern relative, the common house cat, Felis catus.
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Undersides of the skulls of two Smilodon
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Skull of Smilodon fatalis at maximum gape (128°)
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Skull of a domestic cat, at maximum gape (80°)
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A reconstruction of the dirk-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis
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Articulated skeleton of Smilodon
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Articulated skeleton of Homotherium
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A reconstruction of the scimitar-toothed cat Homotherium serum
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Reconstruction of Megantereon in sculpture
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Bison antiquus, a primary prey of Smilodon, according to isotope analysis
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A species of mammoth similar to those possibly hunted by Homotherium
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An Amphimachairodus giganteus skull with chipped left canine and more severely damaged right canine.
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La Brea Tar Pits fauna as depicted by Charles R. Knight with two Smilodon playing the role of opportunistic scavengers.
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A modern leopard, Panthera pardus applying the conical-tooth equivalent of the "bite and compress" to a bushbuck.
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A diagram to depict the path of canines to achieve maximum damage during a careful shearing bite: Megantereon is depicted here with the neck of a horse in cross section. A – esophagus, B – four major blood vessels, C – windpipe, and D – vertebrae
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A sequence diagram of the shearing bite in the machairodont Homotherium serum: Diagram A depicts the machairodont pressing its lower canines and large incisors into the belly of the prey, creating a fold with the upward motion. Diagram B depicts the skull being depressed by the muscles of the neck, piercing the skin. Diagram C depicts the jaws clamped firmly around the section of skin and fat, and with incisors gripping the skin, the machairodont is pulling back, tearing the flap of skin from the belly.
See also
In Spanish: Macairodontinos para niños
