Saber-Toothed Cat Fossils Reveal Spinal Tumors and Inbreeding Before Extinction

On July 26, a study featured in Frontiers in Veterinary Science analyzed 3,722 vertebrae from a minimum of 849 saber-toothed cats (Smilodon fatalis) found at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. The research, spearheaded by Hugo Schmökel from IVC Evidensia Veterinary Academy, uncovered 32 underdeveloped arches, 48 fused 'block' vertebrae, and 226 'transitional' vertebrae. Notably, three vertebrae exhibited enlarged openings, suggesting the presence of rare spinal nerve tumors, with an estimated occurrence of 353 per 100,000 individuals. The results indicate that inbreeding, stemming from a population decline, may have led to detrimental mutations. Smilodon fatalis roamed between 11,000 and 700,000 years ago, facing competition from dire wolves, with the reasons for their extinction still unclear, echoing challenges faced by 20 endangered wild cat species today.