Fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits are offering a new clue about why saber-toothed cats may have struggled near the end of their existence. Researchers found an unexpectedly high number of rare spinal nerve tumors in fossilized spines, pointing to possible inbreeding in the population shortly before extinction.
According to the report, these tumors would not have been minor abnormalities. They are linked to serious pain and disability, which means affected animals may have had more difficulty moving, hunting, or surviving in the wild. A pattern like this appearing repeatedly in the fossil record suggests a deeper problem than isolated illness.
The findings raise the possibility that saber-toothed cats were already under genetic strain as their numbers declined. Inbreeding can become more common when a species shrinks and individuals have fewer mates to choose from, increasing the chances of harmful traits appearing more often.
By connecting fossil evidence with signs of disease, the study adds another layer to the story of extinction at La Brea. Instead of disappearing only because of outside pressures, saber-toothed cats may also have faced internal biological challenges that made survival even harder in their final period.
