Saber-toothed predator

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A saber-tooth (alternatively spelled sabre-tooth) is any member of various extinct groups of predatory therapsids, predominantly carnivoran mammals, that are characterized by long, curved saber-shaped canine teeth which protruded from the mouth when closed. Among the earliest animals that can be described as "sabertooths" were Middle-Late Permian (~274-252 million years ago) non-mammalian therapsids including the gorgonopsians as well as some basal therocephalians (lycosuchids and scylacosaurids). Saber-toothed mammals have been found worldwide from the Eocene epoch to the early Holocene epoch (52.4 million years ago – 8,200 years ago). One of the best-known genera is the "saber-toothed cat" Smilodon, the species of which, especially S. fatalis, are popularly referred to as "saber-toothed tigers", although they are not closely related to tigers (Panthera), and are instead members of the extinct cat subfamily Machairodontinae (the true saber-toothed cats), most members of which had saber...

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