What happened to sabertooths? Longstanding assumptions depict saber-toothed predators with massive seven-inch fangs. In reality, early sabertooths were the size of modern mountain lions, wielding shorter, razor-thin teeth built for swift slicing. Using 3D digital scans to map the skull, researchers showed how hyper-specialized, knife-like canines made these cats lethal hunters of large Ice Age mammals. When those large prey species disappeared, sabertooths fragile fangs snapped against bone or failed on smaller game, driving hyper-specialized felines to extinction while generalized biters survived. This discovery highlights the immense value of revisiting established museum collections—proving that re-examining existing archives with fresh eyes and modern technology can be just as revolutionary as discovering new field sites. Full story at the link in our bio: bit.ly/4oEUG4Z #UCBerkeley #Paleontology #Fossils #Evolution What happened to sabertooths? Longstanding assumptions d...