Machairodus giganteus
Asia
Upper Miocene, Messinian (4.5-7 million years)
Mounted on a custom metal and wood stand
Skull 39 x 24 cm, Sabers 12.2 cm

Provenance: Swiss private collection

From the most impressive saber-toothed cat species of all time, this fantastic skull is from Machairodus giganteus, a species even larger than the famous Smilodon of the La Brea Tar Pits.

With their enormous, deadly-sharp canines, saber-toothed carnivores were frightening and ferocious predators of the Late Miocene era.
This species roamed the fields of Central asia until about 10,000 years ago. The animals were about the same size as today's lions or tigers, but somewhat a lot stronger in build. Their protruding fangs reached a length of up to 16 centimetres.

Why the enormous teeth? Certainly they were used in hunting, but opinions vary as to exactly how they were applied. Some paleontologists have suggested that they were used to grab and hold onto prey. Another agreed-upon on hypothesis suggests that saber teeth were used to deliver a fatal ripping wound to the belly or throat of a prey animal. This made them immensely dangerous hunters that were feared even by Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon humans.

This wonderful specimen, exhibiting over 98% original bone material, displays exceptional sabers, which protrude over four inches from the skull. It is among the largest saber-toothed cat skulls ever found. This is undoubtedly one of the finest fossil cat skulls ever to be offered for public sale and would be a museum-quality addition to any collection.