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Description
Contrary to popular belief, most Machairodonts (including Homotherium, Amphimachairodus, Dinofelis, etc, with Homotherium serum being shown here) probably had their knife-like canines completely covered by lips. This would be accomplished in a manner similar to the extant members of Pantherinae, with large upper lips and small “pockets” in the lower lips. This way, the canine would be mostly covered by the upper lip and the remainder would be pocketed in a small pouch in the lower lip/chin (these chin pouches were probably somewhat supported by the bony mandibular flange). Exceptions to this would probably include Smilodon and Megantereon, which had canines (or, in Megantereon’s case, flanges) too large to be sufficiently pocketed in the chin.

Description
Contrary to popular belief, most Machairodonts (including Homotherium, Amphimachairodus, Dinofelis, etc, with Homotherium serum being shown here) probably had their knife-like canines completely covered by lips. This would be accomplished in a manner similar to the extant members of Pantherinae, with large upper lips and small “pockets” in the lower lips. This way, the canine would be mostly covered by the upper lip and the remainder would be pocketed in a small pouch in the lower lip/chin (these chin pouches were probably somewhat supported by the bony mandibular flange). Exceptions to this would probably include Smilodon and Megantereon, which had canines (or, in Megantereon’s case, flanges) too large to be sufficiently pocketed in the chin.