Eurasia, late Miocene, ca. 10 million years ago. An extremely rare, fossilized partial skull of Machairodus horribilis, a prehistoric saber-toothed cat, with the sizable canine saber teeth measuring slightly over 3 inches in length! Some serrations on the teeth are still intact! Machairodus horribilis belonged to an extinct group of large machairodontine felines, the name machairodontine translating to “dagger / saber-toothed.” This species lived in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America during the Miocene and Pleistocene era, spanning about 11.5 million years. Machairodus horribilis was the largest of the genus, one specimen was estimated at 892 lb. (404 kg). Despite this size, their sabers were smaller, and their jaws did not open as wide as some other saber cats, suggesting they took down smaller prey, filling a slightly different predatory niche. Size of skull: 8.5″ L x 5.5″ W x 4.75″ H (21.6 cm x 14 cm x 12.1 cm); 5.75″ H (14.6 cm) on included custom stand; longer canine: 3.26″ L x 1.15″ W (8.3 cm x 2.9 cm)
Condition: Professionally prepared with small areas of expected restoration, but likely 95% or more original material! Stable fissures and throughout. Tip of one saber has a small area of restoration with new material. Other saber is original material. Partial upper skull as shown. Mounted on a wooden base. Nice remains of serration on the canines.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection
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