A new paper published in The Anatomical Record sheds light on the biomechanical strategies of saber-toothed predators, offering a more nuanced view of how these iconic animals used their fearsome teeth. The study, "Sharpening Our Understanding of Saber-Tooth Biomechanics," was co-authored by Dr. Philip Anderson, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Saber-teeth are a prime example of convergent evolution, having evolved independently in multiple extinct mammalian lineages. While previous studies have long recognized that saber-toothed predators used a distinct biting strategy compared to modern carnivores like lions, the precise mechanics have remained controversial.
This new review integrates experimental insights from tooth and puncture mechanics with detailed morphological analyses to assess the validity of the “canine shear-bite” hypothesis. By quantifying tooth characteristics such as elongation, curvature, slenderness, and sharpness across a wide range of extinct and modern species, the researchers explored how saber-teeth would perform during different types of bites.
The findings suggest that extreme saber-tooth forms, like those of Smilodon, were well-suited for deep puncture and slicing actions—traits ideal for the canine shear-bite. However, the study also reveals a continuum of saber-tooth morphologies, indicating a broader functional diversity than the traditional, binary “shear-bite versus clamp-and-hold” framework suggests.
Dr. Anderson’s expertise in evolutionary biomechanics, and puncture mechanics specifically, contributed to the exploration of how tooth form influenced feeding function across different predator lineages. The paper highlights remaining gaps in understanding, particularly the influence of tooth curvature, cross-sectional shape, and serrations on puncture performance.
This research not only advances scientific knowledge of extinct carnivores but also emphasizes the complexity of evolutionary solutions to predation.