National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Saber-Toothed Cat Had Weak Bite, Digital Model Says


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Computer images like the one above show the pressure exerted by a saber-toothed cat's jaws. Researchers examining such models can tell the maximum amount of force the cat could create when it bit down on its prey.

An analysis of the images reveals that the fearsome predator could exert just a third of the bite strength of a modern-day lion.

Image courtesy John Conway © 2007