Bear Strength

[brotherbear]

iceage.museum.state.il.us/mammals/sabertoothed-cats 

Physical Description: 
Smilodon fatalis was about as long as the modern African lion, but unlike lions, it had short, powerful legs, a short tail, and a heavy muscular build. Whereas modern cats are typically built for speed and agility, Smilodon was built for strength and power. In fact, comparison of skeletal measurements indicates that Smilodon's body was built more like a bear than a modern cat (Wroe et al. 2008), although with more flexibility and agility than is seen in bears. Smilodon's most dramatic and well-known feature is its enlarged upper canines, which were roughly 18-25 cm (7-10 inches). As in other dirk-toothed cats, these upper canines were long and narrow, and they were flat in cross-section, rather than round like those of modern cats (Martin 1980). In order to accommodate the length of the canines, or sabers, Smilodon had a narrow lower jaw that allowed the canines to protrude beneath its chin when its jaw was closed. Reply