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Machairodontinae is a subfamily of Felidae which contains all true cats. Machairodontinae contains the cats we know as 'sabertoothed cats', and though many of the cats show only minor increase in the size and length of their canine teeth, it also contains the famed genus of Smilodon.
There are two types of Machairdontinae 'dirk toothed' and 'scimitar toothed'. Dirk toothed cats had elongated, narrow upper canines and generally had stocky bodies. Scimitar toothed cats had broader and shorter upper canines and a typically more lithe form and longer legs. Long toothed cats often had a bony flange that extended from their lower mandible.
Contrary to popular belief, saber toothed 'tiger' is an incorrect term. These creatures were part of a separate subfamily from tigers, which belong to the genus Panthera. There is no evidence that they had tiger like coat patterns, and they certianly did not live or hunt in the same way.
Another myth often set these creatures in snowy areas, as we believe them to be ice age creatures. While some certianly did live in snowy conditions and/or during an ice age, many lived in warmer climates, even during ice ages. Machairodonts stretch back into the Oligocene and only became extinct in the last 10,000 years.
The way machairodonts hunted is hotly debated. It was originally suggested that they must use a 'stabbing' motion with their teeth. This is unlikely, for the teeth may not have been fragile, but a large prey animal's thrashing about could easily injure the long teeth. Some suggested that they may have slashed at the belly of large animals and waited for them to die of blood loss. This is more plausible, but when it is seen how the bite of a dirk toothed cat matches up with a normal large mammals neck, a much more likely idea is formed. If a cat could get to a large animal's neck, their bite would cut straight through the jugular veins and arteries, and would even cut off the windpipe if their teeth were long enough. This is still risky for their teeth, but much less than the stabbing method, as they would be anchored with their lower canines and incisors. Also, if they worked in prides (there is evidence to argue that they did, but nothing to prove so fully), they could subdue the animal before performing the killing bite.
Of the Machairodontinae, there were three 'tribes' or subgenera:
Metailurini
Homotheriini
Smilodontini
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