Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.

<h4>Background</h4>The sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, was an enigmatic predator without a true living analog. Their elongate canine teeth were more vulnerable to fracture than those of modern felids, making it imperative for them to immobilize prey with their forelimbs when making a k...

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Autores principales:	Julie A Meachen-Samuels, Blaire Van Valkenburgh
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2010
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/f8704881da854a7e970372481ad102a3
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:f8704881da854a7e970372481ad102a32021-12-02T20:20:19ZRadiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0011412https://doaj.org/article/f8704881da854a7e970372481ad102a32010-07-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/20625398/?tool=EBIhttps://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203<h4>Background</h4>The sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, was an enigmatic predator without a true living analog. Their elongate canine teeth were more vulnerable to fracture than those of modern felids, making it imperative for them to immobilize prey with their forelimbs when making a kill. As a result, their need for heavily muscled forelimbs likely exceeded that of modern felids and thus should be reflected in their skeletons. Previous studies on forelimb bones of S. fatalis found them to be relatively robust but did not quantify their ability to withstand loading.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Using radiographs of the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, 28 extant felid species, and the larger, extinct American lion Panthera atrox, we measured cross-sectional properties of the humerus and femur to provide the first estimates of limb bone strength in bending and torsion. We found that the humeri of Smilodon were reinforced by cortical thickening to a greater degree than those observed in any living felid, or the much larger P. atrox. The femur of Smilodon also was thickened but not beyond the normal variation found in any other felid measured.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Based on the cross-sectional properties of its humerus, we interpret that Smilodon was a powerful predator that differed from extant felids in its greater ability to subdue prey using the forelimbs. This enhanced forelimb strength was part of an adaptive complex driven by the need to minimize the struggles of prey in order to protect the elongate canines from fracture and position the bite for a quick kill.Julie A Meachen-SamuelsBlaire Van ValkenburghPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 5, Iss 7, p e11412 (2010)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Julie A Meachen-Samuels Blaire Van Valkenburgh Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.
description	<h4>Background</h4>The sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, was an enigmatic predator without a true living analog. Their elongate canine teeth were more vulnerable to fracture than those of modern felids, making it imperative for them to immobilize prey with their forelimbs when making a kill. As a result, their need for heavily muscled forelimbs likely exceeded that of modern felids and thus should be reflected in their skeletons. Previous studies on forelimb bones of S. fatalis found them to be relatively robust but did not quantify their ability to withstand loading.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Using radiographs of the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, 28 extant felid species, and the larger, extinct American lion Panthera atrox, we measured cross-sectional properties of the humerus and femur to provide the first estimates of limb bone strength in bending and torsion. We found that the humeri of Smilodon were reinforced by cortical thickening to a greater degree than those observed in any living felid, or the much larger P. atrox. The femur of Smilodon also was thickened but not beyond the normal variation found in any other felid measured.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Based on the cross-sectional properties of its humerus, we interpret that Smilodon was a powerful predator that differed from extant felids in its greater ability to subdue prey using the forelimbs. This enhanced forelimb strength was part of an adaptive complex driven by the need to minimize the struggles of prey in order to protect the elongate canines from fracture and position the bite for a quick kill.
format	article
author	Julie A Meachen-Samuels Blaire Van Valkenburgh
author_facet	Julie A Meachen-Samuels Blaire Van Valkenburgh
author_sort	Julie A Meachen-Samuels
title	Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.
title_short	Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.
title_full	Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.
title_fullStr	Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.
title_full_unstemmed	Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.
title_sort	radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, smilodon fatalis.
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2010
url	https://doaj.org/article/f8704881da854a7e970372481ad102a3
work_keys_str_mv	AT julieameachensamuels radiographsrevealexceptionalforelimbstrengthinthesabertoothcatsmilodonfatalis AT blairevanvalkenburgh radiographsrevealexceptionalforelimbstrengthinthesabertoothcatsmilodonfatalis
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Radiographs reveal exceptional forelimb strength in the sabertooth cat, Smilodon fatalis.

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