| Smilodon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Biological information | |
| Time period : | Pleistocene epoch |
| Lifestyle : | Carnivore |
| In the series | |
| Brought back : | 2; male and female |
| Appearances : | "Saving the Sabretooth" "The Bug House" "Supercroc" |
Smilodon (name meaning "Knife tooth"), also commonly known as the saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger (although it was not closely related to the tiger or other modern cats), is a genus of big cat that lived in North and South America during the Pleistocene epoch of the Quaternary period.
Famous for its large, sabre-like teeth, three species are currently assigned to the genus, including the well-known North American species, S. fatalis, and the largest species, S. populator, from South America, which was the species featured in Prehistoric Park.
Portrayal in the series[]
Smilodon was a stocky, powerful big cat that dominated both North and South America from 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 years ago. Like lions, Smilodon lived in prides, living in groups of up to at least six individuals (excluding cubs), and much like their modern relative, female Smilodon primarily do the hunting.
Due to its build, Smilodon couldn't pursue its prey over long distances, therefore, it resorted to ambushing unsuspecting prey. Large ungulates, such as Toxodon, were its preferred prey of choice, as they can easily sever the jugular of such animals with a well-placed bite to the neck with their iconic saber-like teeth (PP: Saving the Sabertooth).
However, by 12,000 years ago, Smilodon was on the decline as their preferred prey, being large ungulates, were now extinct across the Americas and have been replaced by more nimble animals such as antelopes and deer. Its once specialized nature now crippled it, and whatever Smilodon could try and eat seemed to be from kills made by other predators.
In Prehistoric Park[]
"Saving the Sabretooth"[]
A Smilodon cub.
When Nigel traveled back a million years to prehistoric South America, he encounters a female Smilodon while she was stalking a Toxodon. The female kills the herbivore and the whole pride feasts upon it. When the pride leaves, a Terror Bird emerges. Before it can start to eat, another Smilodon attacks, forcing the bird to retreat. Nigel, determined to get the terror bird for the park, steals a piece of meat the terror bird had dropped, the Smilodon roaring at Nigel as he does so.
Nigel later traveled to South America 10,000 years ago along with Saba Douglas-Hamilton, an expert on big cats, to capture one for the park. The pair set up camera traps, and one picks up on a young male who then knocked over and marked the camera. But earlier Saba found a cub, and they will go to it to see if the mother has returned. They see the cub and mother - but the cub is very weak. In the distance, they know there is the injured male, and decide to dart him first before darting the female and cub.
They manage to dart and escape the male, and once he has been sedated, they put him in the truck and head back to the female. However, when they arrive, they find out that they've come too late. The cub has died, and the mother is in poor condition. They sedate the female and take the two prehistoric cats back to the park.
"The Bug House"[]
Smilodon eating a Toxodon
The female and the young male Smilodon have fully recovered. Suzanne wants to proceed in getting them to breed, but the female shows a lot of aggression towards the young male. Later in the episode, Suzanne and other crew members construct climbing frames for the Smilodon pair. She believes this technique called "environment enrichment" will get the female and the young male Smilodon more comfortable with one another. One day later, Suzanne checks up on the Smilodon with their improved enclosures, with great results. The female is much happier with the climbing frames, and is not ignoring the young male. Later in the episode, Suzanne opens the barrier separating the two halves of the enclosure. While the female and the young male do swat at each other a little bit, the two cats do not lash out.
Two Smilodon grooming each other in the prehistoric park.
"Supercroc"[]
It is revealed that the female is still reproductively active, as she has given birth to two cubs. Unfortunately, however, she was having difficulty trying to produce milk for them probably because of not drinking enough water. Thankfully, Suzanne has taken them both in, but in doing so, she destroys the female Smilodon's bond with them. A few weeks after the Mass Break-Out, the two cubs have been weaned and are now consuming meat.
Behind the scenes[]
The female Smilodon in South America
The name for the female Smilodon was never mentioned in the show. However, in a now unavailable/lost interactive desktop game, her name was revealed to be Sabrina. However, since her name was never mentioned in the show, it can be partially assumed that the name itself is non-canon.
Trivia[]
- Despite being compared to lions and tigers, their closest modern relative is the clouded leopard.