Saber-toothed Cats: Inbreeding Link to Spinal Tumors in La Brea Fossils
Saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis) fossils from La Brea reveal a high frequency of spinal tumors, ~1,000 times higher than humans. Scientists suggest inbreeding during the species' decline caused these painful conditions, potentially impacting hunting and contributing to their extinction around 12,000 years ago.