Using computed tomography, the same technology common in hospitals (and veterinarian offices), the pelvis and matching thigh bone were scanned, and the resulting images were used to create 3D models of the inside of the bones.
For more than a century, paleontologists thought the massive destruction of the pelvis examined in this study was caused by trauma or infection that eventually led to the animal’s death, but a look inside the bone using modern medical technology told a different story. Balisi) in many Smilodon vertebrae points to a hunting style that includes grappling with large Ice Age prey, like bison. For instance, the lower-back trauma found (and reported in an earlier article by Dr. These damaged bones are incredibly valuable for better understanding extinct animals’ behavior. Part of the richness of La Brea Tar Pits’ collection are the fossils exhibiting signs of injury and disease–the more than 8,000 specimens that make up the pathology collection. Mairin Balisi, Postdoctoral Fellow at La Brea Tar Pits, in collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons at Cedars-Sinai hospital, used 3D image reconstruction of external and internal bone morphology of a deformed Smilodon hip bone to reveal this saber-toothed cat suffered from hip dysplasia, suggesting a social structure that helped members survive to adulthood even when they couldn’t hunt for themselves due to this birth defect. Published in Scientific Reports, a new study led by Dr.
Los Angeles, CA (October 28, 2021) -You can’t spell ‘ Smilodon fatalis’ without ‘fatal’, but researchers at La Brea Tar Pits may have found a softer side to saber-toothed cats along with a connection to our own feline and canine companions. view moreĬredit: 1988 Mark Hallett mural, “Trapped in Time." Courtesy of La Brea Tar Pits. A new study adds to mounting evidence that these killers possibly shared some of their kills with Smilodon unable to hunt for themselves. Image: A detail from the 1988 Mark Hallett mural, “Trapped in Time,” depicting saber-toothed cats digging into prey.