Sabre-toothed tiger (Smilodon fatalis). Illustration and photo-reconstruction of the sabre-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis jumping onto a North American bison against the backdrop of a scattering herd. It was a fierce predator about 1.5-2.2 metres long and 1.1 metres tall. It weighed 160 - 300 kilograms. It was a bit smaller than a modern-day lion, but much heavier. Many Smilodon fossils have been found with broken canines. A fossil wolf was found with a Smilodon tooth fragment embedded in its skull. Smilodon had powerful jaws that opened to an angle of about 120 degrees; todays lions can only open their jaws to 65 degrees.