### First-Ever Sabertooth Cub Mummy Unearthed in Siberian Permafrost

In a groundbreaking discovery, diggers in Siberia, originally on the hunt for woolly mammoth tusks, have unearthed a remarkably preserved sabertooth cub mummy estimated to be around 32,000 years old. This extraordinary find marks the world’s first saber-toothed cat mummy, promising to shed light on many of the mysteries that have surrounded these ancient predators for nearly two centuries.

For generations, scientists and enthusiasts alike have speculated about the true appearance of saber-toothed cats. Models, paleoart, and even animated features have all attempted to recreate these enigmatic creatures, relying mostly on fossilized bones and occasional footprints. The discovery of this cub in Siberian permafrost offers an unprecedented glimpse into what these long-extinct animals actually looked like.

Ashley Reynolds, a paleontologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature, expressed her excitement about the discovery. "I was over-the-moon excited to see such an incredible specimen," she said. The rarity of this find is particularly notable given that while mummified mammoths and other herbivores have been found in the region, apex predators like the sabertooth are a much rarer sight. Predators typically exist in fewer numbers compared to their prey in the wild, making this discovery even more exceptional.

The mummified cub, identified as a baby Homotherium latidens, was found in 2020 while diggers were prospecting for mammoth tusks. Paleontologist A.V. Lopatin of the Russian Academy of Sciences, along with his colleagues, studied the specimen and shared their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. Lopatin conveyed the excitement that accompanied the discovery, stating they were "surprised and delighted" by the find.

Homotherium latidens, sometimes referred to as the scimitar-toothed cat due to its shorter, serrated canine teeth, was a predator better suited to chasing prey rather than the ambush tactics of its more famous relative, the Smilodon. This predatory cat roamed both Eurasia and North America and primarily hunted juvenile mammoths and other large creatures, often making dens in caves to raise their young, as evidenced by fossil sites like Friesenhahn Cave in Texas.

One of the long-standing debates among paleontologists has been about the physical appearance of Homotherium, particularly relating to its canine teeth. Some illustrations depict sabertooths with protruding canines even when their mouths were closed, a trait thought to be characteristic of Smilodon. However, a 2022 analysis suggested that Homotherium’s deep muzzles might have hidden their canines under the upper lip. The upper lip of the discovered cub is significantly deeper than that of a modern lion cub, indicating it could indeed have lips capable of concealing its future long canines.

Despite these revelations, some questions remain unanswered. The cub, still lacking its adult teeth, leaves the debate on the visibility of Homotherium's fangs incomplete. This find fuels hope among paleontologists that an adult Homotherium mummy might one day be discovered, potentially providing more conclusive answers.