01375nas a2200169 4500008004100000245006500041210006400106300001200170490000700182520087700189653002201066653001601088653001301104653002701117100002001144856004101164 2008 eng d00aGrowth Differences in the Saber-Tooth of Three Field Species0 aGrowth Differences in the SaberTooth of Three Field Species a566-5690 v233 a

Analysis of the saber-tooth morphology within the Felidae indicates that canines of various saber-toothed species grow differently. Stable oxygen isotopes analyzed from tooth enamel reveal that the scimitar-toothed Homotherium serum, which possessed short, broad sabers, had tooth crown growth rates similar to modern lions. This contrasts with the longer and thinner, dirk-toothed saber species in the genus Smilodon, S. gracilis and S. fatalis, which had much faster growth rates. With a more rapid growth rate, Smilodon reduced the total duration of crown growth to a period of time similar to that observed in modern lions, even though its tooth crown was twice as large. While comparable in overall morphology, developmental differences may reflect ecological differences among taxa bearing saber-toothed canines.

10aHomotherium serum10asaber-tooth10aSmilodon10aStable oxygen isotopes1 aFeranec, R., S. uhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/27670539