The first fossil from the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles was confirmed in 1875 by geologist William Denton. This first fossil was an ancient saber-toothed cat. In 1924, George Allan Hancock donated 23 acres of his family’s ranch to the County of Los Angeles so that it could become a public park which would protect the tar pits and safeguard the fossils. In 1977, the Page Museum (also known as the Tar Pits Museum) opened to the public. The displays at the Museum include fossils from two species of ancient cats.
California Saber-tooth
The Saber-toothed Cat (Smilodon fatalis) is the California state fossil. This animal was as large as an African lion and was more heavily built. According to the Museum display:
“It was an active predator that relied on stealth and ambush rather than speed to catch its prey of bison, camels, horses and ground sloths.”
According to the Museum display:
“The California Saber-tooth may be viewed as a powerful and efficient hunting machine. Each bone in its body functions in a specific manner.”
Among its prey were young mammoths and mastodons. According to the Museum display:
“After a Saber-tooth used its powerful forelimbs to pull down its prey, it probably stabbed at the unprotected, softer under side of the animal. It then retreated until after the young animal died in order to escape the wrath of the mother and other members of the herd.”
Shown above is the skull of Smilodon californicus.
Naegele’s Giant Jaguar
Naegele’s Giant Jaguar (Panthera atrox) was formerly known as the American “lion”. It is actually more closely related to the living jaguar. It was larger than the African lion, Siberian tiger, or saber-toothed car. At Rancho La Brea, more than 80 of these animals have been recovered.
Paleontology
Paleontology is the study of the ancient past through fossils. More from this series:
Paleontology 101: Wolves, Dogs, Cats, and Bears (Photo Diary)
Paleontology 101: Dinosaur Hall (Photo Diary)
Paleontology 101: The Mesozoic--The Age of Dinosaurs (Photo Diary)
Paleontology 101: The Cenozoic--The Age of Mammals (Photo Diary)
Paleontology 101: The California Pleistocene (Photo Diary)