Smilodon californicus

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Smilodon californicus
Fossil specimen at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Subfamily: Machairodontinae Genus: Smilodon Species: S. fatalis Subspecies: S. f. californicus

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, or scavenging carcasses.

[edit] See also

• Smilodon fatalis
• Smilodon gracilis
• Smilodon populator.

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[edit] External links

• Dino Land State Fossils: Smilodon of California
• Machairodontinae (Sabre-toothed Cats)