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LiveScience
LiveScience
Harry Baker

5 million-year-old fossils reveal 2 new species of saber-toothed cats in South Africa

An artist's impression of a saber-toothed cat in the genus Smilodon. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Scientists have unearthed the remains of two never-before-seen species of saber-toothed cats that roamed Africa around 5.2 million years ago. The discoveries have changed what researchers previously knew about this group of extinct feline creatures, a new study shows. 

The new findings could also shed light on the environmental changes happening at the time, which could help reveal why human ancestors started walking on two legs. researchers say. 

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