Sabre-toothed predators, particularly well-known for the notorious Smilodon, have emerged multiple times throughout various groups of mammals. A recent study, released today in Current Biology, explains this phenomenon: these distinctive teeth were ‘functionally optimal’ and incredibly adept at piercing their prey.
The research, spearheaded by scientists from the University of Bristol in partnership with Monash University, indicates that the long, sharp, blade-like teeth provided sabre-tooths with a significant advantage as specialized tools for hunting.
The results shed light on the multiple occurrences of sabre-tooth evolution (at least five separate times in mammals) and offer insight into their eventual extinction. Their increasing specialization may have functioned as an ‘evolutionary ratchet’, making them exceptional hunters but also more susceptible to extinction when environmental shifts led to a decrease in available prey.
The research team aimed to determine if the shape of sabre-tooth teeth was an optimal compromise between two contrasting needs: being sharp and slim enough to efficiently puncture prey while also being sturdy enough to withstand breaking. Using 3D-printed steel replicas of teeth, they conducted various biting experiments along with advanced computer simulations to evaluate the shape and performance of 95 different carnivorous mammal teeth, including 25 species of sabre-tooths.
Dr. Tahlia Pollock, the lead author and member of the Palaeobiology Research Group at Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences, stated: “Our research enhances our understanding of how extreme adaptations develop—not only in sabre-toothed predators but across the animal kingdom.
“By merging biomechanics with evolutionary theory, we can reveal how natural selection influences animals to excel at specific tasks.”
Another significant discovery challenges the conventional notion that sabre-toothed predators fell into only two types: ‘dirk-toothed’ and ‘scimitar-toothed.’ Instead, the study revealed a range of sabre-tooth shapes, from the elongated, curved teeth of Barbourofelis fricki to the straighter, sturdier teeth of Dinofelis barlowi. This finding supports a growing perspective that suggests more diverse hunting strategies existed among these predators than previously recognized.
Looking to the future, the research team plans to broaden their analysis to encompass all types of teeth, aiming to uncover the biomechanical compromises that influenced the evolution of various dental structures across the animal kingdom.
“The results not only enhance our comprehension of sabre-toothed predators but also have wider implications for evolutionary biology and biomechanics,” remarked Professor Alistair Evans from the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University. “Insights gained from this study could even help guide bio-inspired engineering designs.”
