Extinct Saber-toothed Cat (Smilodon fatalis) Fact Sheet: Diseases & Pathology

Abnormalities in fossils bones may show
evidence of arthritis, cancer, nutritional stress, fractures and more.

• Fused vertebrae from arthritis (Duckler 19997)
• Ossification between vertebrae with several possible causes - seen in La Brea specimens (Bjorkengren et al 1987)
• Trauma and resulting infection
• Inflammatory disease (ankylosing spondylitis)
• Skeletal-wide bone overgrowths (hyperostosis)
• Bone damage from impact of teeth of other sabertooth cats (Bjorkengren et al 1987)
• Occasionally fractured teeth found imbedded in bone of victim
• Broken legs, dislocated hips, bone infections, back injuries (Merriman and Stock 1932)
• Thirty percent of 1,000 skulls examined show erosion of the parietal bone where largest jaw muscles attached (Duckler 1997)
• Long-term mechanical stress could cause microfractures, weakened bone, and bone thinning
• Other carnivores show fewer and shallower depression than did Smilodon bones

Annyonge (1996)
Bjorkengren et al (1987)
Duckler (1997)