Smilodon skull - Object of the Month - Lapworth Museum of Geology

Anna, Learning and Community Development Officer at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, describes her chosen Object of the Month; a skull of a smilodon or sabre-toothed cat.

[SweetTeaRexes]

Finally! Finally found a documentary that actually has a person talking and not just subtitles!

[shafqatishan]

I get so annoyed when these nerds keep repeating they're not tigers. Yes we know that. This name is just a complimentary name. You have a problem with the sabertooth tiger name, yet you keep calling cougar/puma as mountain lion!

[mikekwarner]

A few interesting coincidences here. Firstly, whilst I went to Birmingham University & studied Computer Science in Aston Webb, I didn't realise this Museum was present. Mind you, it was a long time ago now 😅. Secondly, I've recently received a Rebor Smilodon Population model ... which is perhaps why this video was recommended to me!

[wheelmanstan]

the whiskers are sensors as well, not just curb-finders, they can help bite placement and sense prey's pulse, I've always heard anything a cat can get its head in it can squeeze its body into as well, maybe with some big cats this won't ring true but for everything up to maybe a cougar I think it rings true

[speedracer]

I think that the massive bite gap also helps it to get the thick, muscled neck of a prey animal, like a bison or horse, into the jaws in order to deliver a killing bite. By the way, which species of Smilodon is that?

[محمدجابر-غنخ]

That is so sad to see diego end up like this 😢

[simonj]

Actually the relationship between sabertooths and mammoths probably mirrored that between lions and African elephants- that is, the felines would prey on the offspring of the Proboscideans, but only very rarely would they take on adults.

[masulubonak]

I think the sabertooths were hubting big preys, thats why they have big fangs

[xenon]

There were specimen of Smilodon sabers penetrating through skull from its own kind.

[RC.]

Where can I get a skull like that it would look good over my fireplace

[dialed]

Cats have a really specific purpose for whiskers, but you said the saber isn’t a cat ...

[boredroomnostalgias]

she looks like Lily James in Cinderella movie

[kingdweiyn]

Is that tiger alway smiling smilodon

Just correction

[kururugaming]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge about smilodon :) I am playing dino park coz my little brother is a big fan of dinasour, he ask me a lot of question about dinosour and now i can answer his question about smilodon!!

[flaviopitanga]

Fantastic. I’d love to visit your museum. Thank you

[davidletasi]

180 degrees, sorry not quite! That would dis articulate the jaw from the skull. The normal range of the jaw is around 115 to 120 degrees. You do not need gloves to handle a resin cast of the skull. Otherwise an interesting video.

[gaplan]

Nice kitty! (and the smilodon is so too)

[gerarddonaldson]

Someone got it back in the day believe

[letiruiz]

that skull looks like a replica.. but still cool

[peterdelgado]

Yo. What's Natalie Portman doing on here?🤨😐😏