Smilodon to Color

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Smilodon was one of many saber toothed cats.  Sometimes they are called "saber toothed tigers," but they are not closely related to any modern cats or even tigers.  That being said, they WERE cats.  they were more robust that any modern cat.  In this case, "robust" means bigger size, bigger muscles, and tougher.

There were three species of Smilodon.  The several Smilodons found in the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California, USA, are called Smilodon fatalis.  These Smilodons were trapped in the "predator trap" of the tar pit, could not escape, and thus were preserved for us to enjoy.  Smilodon fatalis weighed up to 620 lbs (280 kg).  If you consider all three species of Smilodon, then you will see that they are found in many parts of both North and South America.

Much of Smilodon's extra size and weight came from its front leg and shoulder muscles.  The muscles of the front half of Smilodon were much more robust than any modern cat.  The biggest modern cat is the Siberian Tiger.  They can weigh up to 675 lbs (306  kg).  But a Smilodon from South America, Smilodon populator, weighed up to 880 lbs (400 kg).  So Smilodon populator was the biggest cat ever to live on Earth.  Still, a full grown Grizzly or especially a Kodiak Grizzly Bear weigh around twice that much.

The name "Smilodon" comes from Greek and or Latin, meaning "blade tooth."  The name "fatalis" was used to mean "fatal" or deadly.  So, you could say that the name "Smilodon fatails" means
"Deadly Bladed Tooth"!  Often in Latin, like in Spanish, the noun is put in front of or before the adjective.  So in Latin or Spanish we say, "Blade-tooth deadly" or more precisely in Spanish, "Diente De Cuchilla Mortal."  In Latin, "Smilodon fatalis"

We actually don't know for sure what color or pattern the fur was on Smilodons.  However, most of us artists add stripes or spots... or a combination of both.  I am including on today's page a drawing I did of Smilodon fatalis.  The drawing was a close up and done in pastel chalk and Prisma colored pencils.  You can look at it while you color and see if you can find the similarities in my coloring page drawing.  However, the drawings are not identical, only similar.  You can see if you can imitate my choice of coloring, but you are probably going to have fun coloring it in your own way.

Smilodon fatalis   Copyright Robin Lyman 2008

Smilodon fatalis near the Forest