Saber-toothed cat, also called saber-toothed tiger, was a catlike prehistoric animal. It was one of many catlike species that had enlarged canine teeth (long, pointed teeth near the front of the mouth). The teeth were shaped like sabers (curved swords), and were about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. The first saber-toothed cats lived about 40 million years ago. They became extinct about 10,000 years ago. Fossils have been found in Africa, Europe, and North and South America. The cats were probably as heavy as today’s tigers. They probably preyed upon thick-skinned animals, including elephants, mastodons, and ground sloths.
Fossils of saber-toothed cats are often found at the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles. Only fossils of the dire wolf, another prehistoric predator, are more common at that site. In 1973, California designated the saber-toothed cat as the official state fossil.
