No other animal found at Rancho La Brea has been as captivating as the sabertoothed cat. Our fascination with this species has led it to become the official state fossil of California. In reality, even without its prominent saber teeth, this cat would have been a deadly predator. The sabertoothed cat had strong limbs and a heavy muscular build, making it much more bulky than other cats, which tend to be agile and nimble. The sabertoothed cat had a short tail (similar to a bobcat) and research suggests that it relied on its powerful muscles to ambush and pounce upon prey, instead of chasing it in a manner similar to lions and other cats. Many fossils of this cat show healed injuries and diseases that would have crippled the animal. This evidence suggests that the cats might have been social animals, living in groups or prides, and caring for the old and sick members.

		Foot Note! NOT A TIGER! The sabertoothed cat, mistakenly called a "sabertoothed tiger," is actually scientifically classified in a separate group from true cats. The sabertoothed cat's lack of a long tail and other physical characteristics place it closer to a bobcat than a lion or tiger. (i.e. you wouldn't call a large bobcat a "bob-tiger.")

Next