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New Study Reveals Saber-Toothed Cats Retained Baby Teeth to Stabilize Adult Fangs

Research indicates that the prolonged retention of baby teeth in saber-toothed cats helped prevent breakage of their formidable adult fangs during adolescence.

A mechanical analysis of the distinctive canines of California's saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis) suggests that the baby tooth that preceded each saber stayed in place for years to stabilize the growing permanent saber tooth, perhaps allowing adolescents to learn how to hunt without breaking them.

Overview

  • Saber-toothed cats, specifically Smilodon fatalis, retained their baby teeth alongside emerging adult fangs for up to 30 months, a new study finds.
  • The presence of both baby and adult teeth in the same socket provided structural support, reducing the risk of the adult fangs breaking during growth.
  • This adaptation likely allowed young saber-toothed cats to learn hunting skills without the risk of damaging their teeth.
  • The findings, based on fossil evidence and mechanical simulations, challenge previous understandings of the species' dental development.
  • Researchers suggest this evolutionary trait may have been present in other saber-toothed species, though evidence is yet to be found.