Smilodon californicus
From Freepedia
| Smilodon californicus Conservation status: Fossil | ||||||||||||||||
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| Image:Smilodon californicus.jpg Fossil specimen at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC | ||||||||||||||||
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| Smilodon californicus Bovard, 1907 |
Smilodon californicus ("Smilodon of California") is a machairodontin saber-toothed cat. It is sometimes considered a separate species of the genus Smilodon but is more likely a subspecies of Smilodon fatalis (as is Smilodon floridanus).
Smilodon (fatalis) californicus is the California state fossil, most abundantly found in the La Brea Tar Pits where it would have been caught in tar while pursuing prey.
See also Smilodon fatalis, Smilodon gracilis and Smilodon populator.
