Sabretooth vs American Lion

Answer 1

I disagree with the post above.  Smilodon populator's muscular features can be offset by the difference in its size when compared to american lion.  However, that's not a deciding factor, as the difference in term of size vs. muscles is not that great to draw a conclusion.  

The deciding factor lies in smilodon's body characteristics, designed to hunt large, and slow prey.  Its body isn't equipped to fight another similar size predator.  Its limbs are powerful, designed to wrestle larger, cumbersome prey to the ground, but the limbs are short to be agile against a similar sized predator.  

Its iconic teeth, though look fearsome, are in fact only useful against slow target.  Once the target is wrestled down, the sabertooth will sink its teeth into the prey's neck and kill the prey almost instantly.  However, because of this long teeth, it can only use it after the prey is wrestled down, because it would break otherwise if not used careful against soft part of the prey's body.  You can just imagine how this can be a hindrance in a fight with similar sized target, as biting the enemy is not an option during the fight.  Further, the fact that smilodon has surprisingly weaker bite than other big cats does not help its cause.  It is probably a more sufficient killer against larger, slower prey than the american lion, but not a better fighter against the american lion as its body is not equipped for it to do so.

Answer 2

I disagree with the post above.  Smilodon populator's muscular features can be offset by the difference in its size when compared to american lion.  However, that's not a deciding factor, as the difference in term of size vs. muscles is not that great to draw a conclusion.  

The deciding factor lies in smilodon's body characteristics, designed to hunt large, and slow prey.  Its body isn't equipped to fight another similar size predator.  Its limbs are powerful, designed to wrestle larger, cumbersome prey to the ground, but the limbs are short to be agile against a similar sized predator.  

Its iconic teeth, though look fearsome, are in fact only useful against slow target.  Once the target is wrestled down, the sabertooth will sink its teeth into the prey's neck and kill the prey almost instantly.  However, because of this long teeth, it can only use it after the prey is wrestled down, because it would break otherwise if not used careful against soft part of the prey's body.  You can just imagine how this can be a hindrance in a fight with similar sized target, as biting the enemy is not an option during the fight.  Further, the fact that smilodon has surprisingly weaker bite than other big cats does not help its cause.  It is probably a more sufficient killer against larger, slower prey than the american lion, but not a better fighter against the american lion as its body is not equipped for it to do so.

Answer 3

I disagree with the post above.  Smilodon populator's muscular features can be offset by the difference in its size when compared to american lion.  However, that's not a deciding factor, as the difference in term of size vs. muscles is not that great to draw a conclusion.  

The deciding factor lies in smilodon's body characteristics, designed to hunt large, and slow prey.  Its body isn't equipped to fight another similar size predator.  Its limbs are powerful, designed to wrestle larger, cumbersome prey to the ground, but the limbs are short to be agile against a similar sized predator.  

Its iconic teeth, though look fearsome, are in fact only useful against slow target.  Once the target is wrestled down, the sabertooth will sink its teeth into the prey's neck and kill the prey almost instantly.  However, because of this long teeth, it can only use it after the prey is wrestled down, because it would break otherwise if not used careful against soft part of the prey's body.  You can just imagine how this can be a hindrance in a fight with similar sized target, as biting the enemy is not an option during the fight.  Further, the fact that smilodon has surprisingly weaker bite than other big cats does not help its cause.  It is probably a more sufficient killer against larger, slower prey than the american lion, but not a better fighter against the american lion as its body is not equipped for it to do so.