Smilodon populator
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Extinct (fossil)
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| Smilodon populator Lund, 1842 |
Smilodon populator ("the Smilodon that brings devastation") was a machairodontine saber-toothed cat species. Smilodon populator first appeared in South America about 1 million years ago and became extinct about 10,000 years ago. It was much larger than its cousins, Smilodon fatalis and Smilodon gracilis, possessing a massive chest and front legs. Standing at 120 cm at the shoulder, it was the size of a large lion. The weight range has been estimated at somewhere between 400 and 600 lb.
When North America collided with the South American land mass, the North American populations of Smilodon moved into the south and into the territory of the Terror Bird, which stood ten feet tall (3 m). A fierce competition developed between the top predators of the North and South Americas. The Birds were out-matched by the mammals, and 1 million years ago when the Smilodon populator was at the peak of its existence the Terror Birds soon became extinct.
Another animal that Smilodon out-competed was Thylacosmilus the marsupial saber tooth cat, which also lived in South America. The competition for prey led them into rivalry and eventually led to the extinction of the marsupial sabre-tooth.
Smilodons eventually died out themselves when they couldn't catch prey. The sabre tooth family of cats was built for power and died out because they weren't fast enough to catch faster moving land mammals. The feline family, which was built for speed and strength, is the branch of cats that live today in modern tigers, lions, and domestic cats.
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