Join for FREE | Take the Tour Lost Password?
Shop deviantART for the
holidays and save BIG!
Click here! :holly:
[x]

deviantART

:woohoo:
 

Smilodon Fatalis Concept by *balaa:iconbalaa:


©2006-2009 *balaa
:iconbalaa:

Artist's Comments

just a quick smilodon sketch I did while I couldn't sleep. I was mostly playing with markings and just kinda studying their skeletons, namely their skulls. I'm just fascinated with them..I guess because they aren't alive anymore and so we can only guess at what they might have looked like..which is just fun! I was also toying with the idea of 'Would male Sabertooths have manes?" There is still some debate as to whether they were pride animals, but most scientsists seem to agree they were simply because of evidence found that suggested bones healing..in a lone cat..a fractured bone would guarantee certain death. However, some of these cats were cared for and fed while they recovered. Which likely means they were pride animals..much like today's lions (and roughly the same size) which leads me to wonder would territorial males had use for manes as used for intimidation/increased look in size etc. Or would have their sheer size and the massive jaws been used for the same purpose? Just idle thoughts..and of course this fella doesn't have a mane..just yummy stripes.

size: 7x11"
tools: mechanical pencil on smooth bristol
time: ?

Critiques


Thank you for your Critique

You are not logged in.

Comments


love 2 2 joy 1 1 wow 0 0 mad 1 1 sad 0 0 fear 0 0 neutral 0 0
:iconthedeafpoet:
Oooh, it's brilliant! =D

--
“Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.” -Henri Nouwen
:iconscottie2731:
Nice concept, it is really good. I've always thought they would be like hippos, the ones with bigger chompers
win...iunno.

--
Nobody is perfect; Everyhuman being has a crack in their butt.
:iconkobb:
I agree, there is something deliciously fascinating about sabertooths. I haven't had the opportunity to study them or their skeletons (though I suddenly realized I want to pick up a book or something now) but they're just... cool. Manes might be cool to design for these fellas... partial ones, perhaps? Nice depiction here; love his musculature. His markings are also pretty awesome - kinda like a king cheetah. Great stuff. B-)

--
"I look at animation as a gift from God. We're helping the public see the beauty of God's creation."
- Glen Keane
:icondancingdragon:
Hm, interesting concept, the mane vs. no mane idea. I think it's valid that they might have had some sort of mane, since with lions, the mane is also used as a form of protection against biting and clawing in fights. IF the smilodon was a pride animal, territorial males might have had manes to work in the fuction of "armor", for protection rather than show... Then again, the neck and shoulders were also severely muzled just to support the huge skull and teeth, so maybe that coudl be enough some how... Hm, ponderances!

--
And the small but Unbreakable Grasshopper said unto the enigmatic Dancing Dragon, "What the Hell are you doing? You're rumbling my ground!"

Just because we're different doesn't mean we're not HUMAN!
~ Mark Madge
:iconchantari:
Oh, I love this! Adore his markings!

--
Roses and Fangs.
:iconaeiiro:
i like the really short/cut off tail. it adds a sense of character.

--
(\__/) This is Bunny. Copy Bunny into
(O.o ) your signature to help him
(> < ) on his way to world domination

if i had an interesting life i would have something other than a world dominating small mammal in my sig.. but i dont. so here we are...
:iconumbree:
THat si so great <3 His paws are soo cool xD

--
hm?
:icon0nesta0:
greattt workk 0.0 !! this smilodon is really superbb !! He have perhaps a breast piece (a little) too broad but the design and
especially the heard is really sublime !!

--
./l、
(゚、 。 7
.l、 ~ヽ
.じしf_,)ノ
:iconwarrior-oji:
aw i luv smilodon x3....i luv also 2 see evry1's different rendering of what it would look like^^ur's is so very luvly balaa sama^^ :heart:

Details

September 5, 2006
217 KB
800×554

Statistics

57
361 [who?]
5,425 (0 today)

Camera Data

HP
HP ScanJet 4600
Sep 4, 2006, 9:13:41 PM

Share

Link
Embed
Thumb

Site Map