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How a Smilodon sabretooth cat closed its gaping mouth
BBC ^
| February 25, 2011
| Victoria Gill
Posted on 02/25/2011 5:40:32 AM PST by decimon
The mystery of how prehistoric sabretoothed cats coped with their oversized teeth has been solved in part by a new analysis of the cats' jaws.
To impale prey with these impressive weapons, the famous sabretoothed cats must have opened their mouths wider than any modern big cat, but it was unclear if their jaw muscles were strong enough to do it.
Now the new analysis reveals that the cats' jaw muscles evolved into a specialised pattern, which allowed them to open their mouths so wide.
>
But Smilodon would also have done something that every cat-owner can see a relic of in their own pet.
"When you put a piece of food on the floor for your cat, you'll see it bobs its head forward as it eats it," he explained.
>
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
TOPICS: History; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; kittyping
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1
posted on
02/25/2011 5:40:34 AM PST
by
decimon
To: SunkenCiv; Slings and Arrows
2
posted on
02/25/2011 5:42:04 AM PST
by
decimon
To: decimon
3
posted on
02/25/2011 5:43:59 AM PST
by
Bigh4u2
(Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
To: decimon
I am glad they found that out.
Wondering how a Sabre Toothed cat closed it’s mouth has been keeping me awake nights for years.
4
posted on
02/25/2011 6:28:25 AM PST
by
Venturer
To: Venturer
Wondering how a Sabre Toothed cat closed its mouth has been keeping me awake nights for years.At least the cat didn't get your tongue.
5
posted on
02/25/2011 6:39:06 AM PST
by
decimon
To: decimon
6
posted on
02/25/2011 6:44:37 AM PST
by
Bean Counter
(Stout Hearts)
To: decimon
7
posted on
02/25/2011 6:47:50 AM PST
by
Bean Counter
(Stout Hearts)
To: Bean Counter
How many teeth does Murkowski have?
8
posted on
02/25/2011 6:53:23 AM PST
by
decimon
To: decimon
With a jaw like that, would you like to go count them??
“Just look at those snappers!”
9
posted on
02/25/2011 7:23:22 AM PST
by
Bean Counter
(Stout Hearts)
To: decimon; Slings and Arrows; Glenn; republicangel; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; asgardshill; ...
10
posted on
02/25/2011 10:54:25 AM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
(You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
To: Slings and Arrows
Technically a “kitty” ping. A great, big, beautiful kitty ping.
I like the archeology threads.
11
posted on
02/25/2011 11:10:21 AM PST
by
TheOldLady
("I am optimistic... [and] greatly heartened by the response of America in 2010..." - Lazamataz)
.
To: decimon
To: decimon
And then there is ... Macrochelys temminckii
To: Lando Lincoln
Top or bottom?You're asking about Murkowski or making me an offer?
Assuming it's about Murkowski, I can see just her bottom teeth and there appears to be many.
15
posted on
02/25/2011 11:19:40 AM PST
by
decimon
To: TheOldLady
Technically a kitty ping. A great, big, beautiful kitty ping.Throw him some catnip and he'll be a big ol' bundle of purr.
16
posted on
02/25/2011 12:00:02 PM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
(You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
To: Slings and Arrows
Yes, and I’ll throw it from far, far away.
To: decimon
To: Lando Lincoln
Bunk beds?Yeah, that's it.
19
posted on
02/25/2011 1:33:01 PM PST
by
decimon
To: Bean Counter
Texas Guppy. Those make good bait.
20
posted on
02/25/2011 1:41:51 PM PST
by
darth
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