The saber-toothed tiger (Smilodon fatalis) was a species that inhabited the American Continent during the geological era of the Pleistocene, about 11,000 years ago.
Besides being fierce, these felids seem to have had another characteristic: being “mama’s boys.” This is what a study from the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada says.
By analyzing the teeth and bones of two two-year-old subadult saber-toothed tigers, who died alongside another adult, it could be seen that they were possibly two siblings together with their mother, and that they depended on her to live.
However, looking at other felines of the same age, such as lions, the animals are already independent. It can thus be concluded that these animals had prolonged parental care.
David C. Evans, author of the study, states in Science “These world-famous collections made about 60 years ago have been studied for years, but part of their importance is that they continue to yield new insights into the lives of these extinct animals.”
