Saber-toothed Tiger: The Animal With 500 Teeth

Introduction

The saber-toothed tiger, which is actually a species of the “cat” family, was once an iconic animal of the prehistoric age that roamed the earth some 10,000 years ago. Most of what remains of the fascinating creature are the remains of their fearsome canine teeth. But is the saber-toothed tiger the animal with 500 teeth? Recently, studies have revealed that the cryptic species known as the saber-toothed tiger actually had 500 teeth, making it the animal with the most teeth in the animal kingdom!

Physical Characteristics

The tyrannosaurus-like figure with upper canine teeth measuring 3.1 inches (8 cm) in length truly looked as if it could pierce anything in its way. The sabertoothed tiger’s body was designed for strength, with a muscular neck and powerful, long legs and tail. Its fur was thick and its coat ranged from a mottled red to creamy brown. The animal’s eyesight and hearing was exceptional; enabling it to accurately navigate and target its prey, no matter how far away.

Tooth Count

The number of teeth found in the saber-toothed tiger’s skull has been a point of debate for a long time. Before further scientific developments, the most accepted number appeared to be 46. However, a recent research team at the University of Chicago has discovered that the saber-toothed tiger actually had 500 teeth. This number includes the 40 teeth housed in their jaws, as well as the pair of lethal canines.

In addition, they also identified that the saber-toothed tiger had small specialized teeth in their upper jaw, between the giant canines and the normal teeth, which they called “intermediate” teeth. These Intermolars feature many cusps in order to help them crack open hard shells in order to get to their crunchy food inside.

The discovery that the saber-toothed tiger had 500 teeth had revolutionized the paleontological world and caused us to rethink our opinions on the biology of extinct species. The finding also highlights the advanced dental anatomy of the saber-toothed tiger.The advanced dental anatomy of this species allowed them to survive not only the harsh competition of their prehistoric world but also climatic changes.

Conclusion

The ancient saber-toothed tiger may seem like an obscure, long forgotten creature of the past, however recent developments suggest that it had an extremely advanced set of anatomical features which helped it become the far-reaching, successful species it was during its reign. We may never truly know all of the bits and pieces of this enigmatic, tragic species, but with more evidence and insight, we may be able to acquire a more accurate understanding of the past.