Smilodon populator
regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Carnivora | familia = Felidae | subfamilia = Machairodontinae | genus = Smilodon | species = S. populator | binomial = Smilodon populator | binomial_authority = Lund, 1842Smilodon 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 between 700 and 800 lb.
Smilodon populator likely hunted in groups. Because of its large leg muscles and stocky posture, it could not run fast enough to catch prey, so it would travel with others in order to ambush small grass-dwelling animals. It would then restrain the animal with its large leg muscles, and fatally slice it at the throat with its saber teeth which were sometimes as large as 18 cm (7 inches) long. These large canines were rather fragile, and could not be used unless the prey was held down (this was almost undoubtedly the use of the heavily muscled forearms). Fossils have been found of several Smilodon populator in a close vicinity, with one grass-dwelling animal near them, which adds weight to the social Smilodon theory.
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