The complete skull of a sabertooth CT has been unearthed in a “ near unadulterated experimental condition ” in southwest Iowa . Not only is this incredible specimen providing insights into this nonextant beast ’s lifestyle , but it ’s also the first grounds the prehistoric predator once inhabited this central part of North America .
The incredible skull was strike in Page County , Iowa , not far from the East Nishnabotna River . carbon 14 analysis suggests the sabertooth cat give-up the ghost between around 13,605 and 13,460 old age ago , designate it was one of the very last of its kind before the species fall into extinction at the terminal of the Ice Age .
“ The skull is a really big deal . Finds of this creature are wide disperse and usually represented by an isolated tooth or pearl . This skull from the East Nishnabotna River is in near double-dyed condition . It ’s recherche , ” Matthew Hill , an associate prof of archaeology at Iowa State , say in astatement .
There were a few type ofsabertooth hombre . This one belong to the speciesSmilodon fatalis , which could weigh up to 300 kg ( around 650 pound ) , standardised in weight unit to a Siberian tiger .
Around 70 sabertooth remains have been found across the US , most notably in the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits of Los Angeles where a collection has been found . However , this is the first time one has been discovered in Iowa .
“ We think southwesterly Iowa during this period was a parkland with patches of Tree intersperse with grassy openings , somewhat like to central Canada today , ” added Hill . “ The cat would have survive alongside other out animals like fearsome masher , giant poor - face bear , long - nosed musk hog , flat - head peccary , hart - moose , muskox , and giant ground sloth , and perchance a few bison and mammoth . ”
The researchers believe the skull belonged to a unseasoned male person , perhaps no older than 2 or 3 years old when it died . This estimation was based on the condition of their permanent tooth and the col between the skull ’s boney plates , which advise it was still grow .
Although still a youngster , he would still have been a force to be reckon with , weighing up to 250 kilograms ( 550 pounds ) .
The researchers explain that this animal most likely huntedgiant priming coat acedia , which were vulgar in Iowa during the Ice Age . In fact , they suspect that this individual might have die out while taking down one of these stupendous creatures . It ’s not sure , but the sabertooth ’s break eye tooth hints that it might have stand an unpleasant accidental injury that ultimately conduct to its end .
build on this initial piece of work , the team hope to carry out a geochemical analysis of the skull to get a clear idea of its diet . This , they hope , could serve to illustrate a clear double of the Ice Age food for thought webs between saber-toothed tiger , giant sloths , moose , and short - faced bear .
“ You are what you eat , and it ’s locked in your castanets , ” Hill tally .
The subject area is published in the journalQuaternary Science Reviews .
