This saber-tooth cat roamed the Americas during the Pleistocene, and went extinct some 10,000 years ago. Scientists estimate that its signature teeth, which could reach lengths of 7 in (18 cm), grew at the rapid speed of .24 in (6 mm) per month—double the growth rate of an African lion’s teeth. To unsheathe these knife-like canines, Smilodon could open its jaws twice as wide as today’s big cats.
As it still had 'em when it died, it must have...or was doing SOMETHING right, at any rate.
ReplyDeleteA caveman a day keeps the dentist away.
ReplyDeleteBut did he brush those teeth daily? No, no they didn’t, which is why they’re extinct. Coincidentally, it’s why alligators is ornery: they got all them teeth and no toothbrush. Mama said so…
ReplyDeleteevolved for a specific puncture on quarry, I read years ago, to the neck or rear quarter below the rib cage. scientific american before it was scienshitfic awokican.
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