Illustration of the saber-toothed cat (Smilodon sp., bottom), compared to a modern African lion (Panthera leo, top). This extinct prehistoric mammal is an example of a sabre-toothed cat. It lived from 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago, from the Early Pleistocene to the Early Holocene. It was a powerful predator, reaching a shoulder height of around a metre and a body length of around 1.75 metres. Its fossils have been found in both North America and South America.