Lot 19
SABRE-TOOTH CAT CANINE
EASTERN EURASIA, LATE MIOCENE TO EARLY PLIOCENE, 12 - 5 MILLION YEARS B.P.
Ancient, African & Oceanic Art and Natural History
Auction: 08 July 2026 at 14:00 BST
Description
a large canine from the sabre-tooth cat Amphimachairodus, still contained within a fragment of the jaw and matrix
Dimensions
tooth 8.9cm long, entire specimen 17.4cm
Provenance
Private collection, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, acquired 2000s
Footnote
Amphimachairodus was a large sabre-toothed cat of the late Miocene to early Pliocene, and one of the dominant ambush predators of its ecosystems. It is best known for its long, blade-like upper canines, used to deliver powerful close-range killing bites. Its hunting style likely relied on stealth and short explosive attacks rather than sustained pursuit. It belongs to the same broader sabre-toothed cat group as later forms such as the famous Ice Age predator Smilodon.