A new discovery has given scientists the first look at an adorable sabre-tooth cub up close, offering new insights into how these extinct predators lived and looked.
For nearly two centuries, paleontologists relied on fossilized bones to represent saber teeth, but a frozen cub found in the permafrost of Siberia has changed the situation.
This cub, believed to be a baby Homotherium latidens, lived about 32,000 years ago, and the mummified remains provide unprecedented detail about these ancient predators.
“I was overjoyed to see such an incredible specimen,” said Ashley Reynolds, paleontologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Top predators like sabretooths are rare discoveries compared to their prey.
The cub was unearthed by giant tusk diggers in Siberia in 2020, surprising researchers with its well-preserved fur, muscles and even internal features.
Unlike its famous relative Smilodon, Homotherium had shorter, serrated canine teeth suitable for cutting rather than ambush attacks. It roamed both Eurasia and North America, preying on megafauna-like young mammoths.
Evidence from sites like Friesenhahn Cave in Texas suggests that these cats raised cubs in dens, much like modern lions. However, what Homotherium looked like has long been debated, especially the visibility of its iconic saber teeth.
The cub’s preserved upper lip is unusually deep, suggesting it might be able to cover the adult sabers – a hypothesis that has intrigued experts for years. However, because the cub does not yet have adult teeth, this mystery remains unsolved.
The cub’s dark brown fur also surprised scientists. It was initially believed that Homotherium, living on the wide-open mammoth steppe, would have had a light coat that blended in with its surroundings. The dark coat may have lightened as the cat aged, similar to other Ice Age species.
The discovery highlights how Homotherium was uniquely adapted to the Ice Age world. Features such as muscular necks, long forelimbs and wide mouths allowed these cats to hunt prey larger than themselves. Even the shape of their paw pads differs from those of modern cats, indicating unique movement patterns.
This frozen cub provides a tangible link to an ancient era and offers details that bones alone could never reveal. It is a vivid reminder of a time when saber teeth ruled the plains of the Ice Age.
