Paleontologist P. W. Lund originally named Smilodon (‘saber-tooth’) after the shape of its incisors, being unaware of the huge canine fangs of the upper jaw. These fangs are the most iconic feature of the cat, and have a flattened profile for slicing into flesh. It is believed that they were not used during the initial attack, but instead delivered the killing blow after the prey was immobilized with claws. The force of their bite was considerably less than that of a lion or tiger, but precision and deep penetration apparently allowed them to dispatch their victims quickly. Aside from the teeth, they were distinguished from other cats by a heavy build, large size, short tail, and relatively massive front limbs. They seem to have been specialized in taking large prey from ambush, lacking the speed and endurance for pursuits over long distance. Fur length, coloration, and pattern are unknown, but some degree of camouflage seems likely. Although it isn’t clear what they sounded like, the ...