Join Dr. Keegan Melstrom as he explores his postdoctoral research of the dizzying array of Mesozoic teeth shapes, how they help reconstruct the lifestyles of extinct animals, and how the data is used to better understand how ecosystems change through time.
How do we know what a saber-toothed cat looked like? Short answer? We don’t! Here at La Brea Tar Pits, we only find the bones of ancient animals, so we have to get creative to visualize it.
A new study reveals saber-toothed cats suffered from hip dysplasia, an affliction common in pet cats and dogs, and points to supportive social structures for Smilodon.