Historic Find: Sabre-Toothed Kitten Mummy Found in Siberia, Skin and Fur Still Intact

A nearly 32,000-year-old saber-toothed cat cub, small enough to fit in one hand, has captivated paleontologists with its remarkable preservation. 

Unlike skeletal remains previously found in Texas, this cub mummy still retains its dark brown fur. 

Discovered in northeastern Russia, the cub is believed to have been around three weeks old at the time of its death. Its exceptional preservation provides a rare glimpse into the anatomy of saber-toothed cats.

The soft tissues offer vital insights into muscle structure, shedding light on how these traits may have influenced their hunting behavior. 

Paleontologist Jack Tseng, an expert in the anatomy of extinct mammals who was not involved in the discovery, said he was "at a loss for words" when considering the wealth of information the find could reveal."

It’s rare to find bones from this lineage, let alone soft tissue," Tseng said. "I don’t know if other paleontologists are as astonished as I am, but seeing this feels like reality has shifted."

Radiocarbon dating confirmed that the Siberia prehistoric discovery is at least 35,000 years old, living during the later stages of the Pleistocene epoch, which spanned from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. 

The cub’s forelimbs were especially well preserved, according to the study's authors. Its front paws still featured claws and the oval-shaped, fleshy pads on the underside, affectionately known as "beans" by modern cat enthusiasts. 

By comparing the cub’s anatomy with that of lion cubs and analyzing the development of its incisors, scientists determined that it was about 3 weeks old at the time of death. 

The mummified cub showed distinct differences from modern lion cubs of a similar age. Its coat was darker, and its ears were smaller. The cub also had longer forelimbs, a larger mouth, and a thicker neck. 

Additionally, the height of its upper lip was more than twice that of a lion cub’s, likely to accommodate the long upper canines that would have developed later. 

Until now, scientists have studied saber-toothed cat anatomy by scanning fossils and digitally reconstructing their muscles in 3D. However, Tseng noted that examining an actual limb is far more revealing. "It makes it seem more plausible that these sabertooths used their forearms," he said.