THE SKULL OF THE SABER-TOOTHED TIGER

This specimen of Smilodon ("saber-toothed tiger") – Smilodon californicus, Bovard 1907

It comes from the collections of the Piero Leonardi Museum of Paleontology and Prehistory (SMA Ferrara) and is typically displayed in the showcase dedicated to the order Carnivora in the Vertebrate Paleontology section.

The Leonardi Museum was founded in 1964 and named after Professor Piero Leonardi, who held the first Chair of Geology at the University of Ferrara from 1949. A geologist, paleontologist, and naturalist, Prof. Leonardi combined his scientific pursuits with a passion for museology, advocating for a museum conceived as a hands-on laboratory to complement academic education.

The skull and mandible of the Smilodon were donated to the University of Ferrara in the 1940s and are part of the approximately three thousand felid fossils discovered in the Quaternary tar pits of Rancho La Brea, California, dating back to the Late Pleistocene.

The Smilodon was a large felid with extremely long upper canines, and one of the carnivores that roamed the western regions of what is now the United States until around 10,000 years ago. Researchers believe that this predator, similar in size to a modern lion but with a short tail, was well-adapted to hunting large ungulates such as bison and horses that populated the North American plains.

Non-destructive diagnostic investigations for the understanding, documentation, and preservation of museum artifacts

This fossil is in excellent preservation condition, though some anatomical parts are not original, having been reconstructed for educational and display purposes. For this reason, the skull and mandible underwent 3D CT scanning at Remet Controlli in Bologna, using a NIKON XT1-225ST scanner, to identify the extent of the plaster reconstructions and assess their state of preservation.

The analysis highlighted both the original anatomical structures and the reconstructed elements, providing insights into their dimensions and current condition. It revealed internal microfractures, particularly in the plaster areas, which are not externally visible but require future consolidation and restoration.

This advanced imaging technology proved extremely effective for detailed structural analysis and for planning restoration actions in the least invasive way possible.

📩 Contact us to learn more: laboratorio@remet.it

Scientific Coordination:

Ursula Thun Hohenstein, Department of Humanities, University Museum System, University of FerraraMarcello Balzani, Fabiana Raco – DIAPReM/TekneHub, Department of Architecture, University of Ferrara

Research Group:

Virginia Lattao, Marco Bertolini – Department of HumanitiesMartina Suppa – IDAUP PhD Program, 24th Cycle, Department of Architecture, University of Ferrara

In collaboration with:

REMET, Nikon, Clust-ER BUILD, Museum of Paleontology and Prehistory – University Museum System of Ferrara