According to a release from the American Museum of Natural History, the saber-tooth tigers' teeth took time to completely come out and the teeth were not completely present until the predator was three years old. The findings have been published in the journal Plos One.

Researchers reach conclusions on the basis of a technique that takes into account both isotopic analysis and x-ray imaging together and offers new information regarding the prehistoric Smilodon fatalis. Approximately 10,000 years ago, the tiger, Smilodon fatalis went extinct and is thought to be nearly the size of a modern tiger or lion, however heavier.

They inhabited North and South America. And according to the release, their canines that are their most eminent feature could grow to reach nearly 7 inches.

According to Eurekalert, Z. Jack Tseng, who is a National Science Foundation and Frick Postdoctoral Fellow in the American Museum of Natural History's Division of Paleontology and a coauthor on the new paper said, "For predators such as big cats, an important determinant of an individual's full hunting ability is the time required to grow their weapons-their teeth. This is especially crucial for understanding sabertoothed predators such as Smilodon".

S. fatalis specimens obtained from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles were used to conduct the study, according to the release.

According to the release, scientists said that the technique explained in the journal is applicable to different kinds of extinct species and could help know more regarding the way and rate at which other extinct species developed.