State
Fossil: Sabre-Tooth Cat
The sabre-tooth cat (Smilodon californicus) was adopted by the Legislature
as the official State Fossil in 1973. This tiger-sized cat with 8-inch
upper canine teeth was a meat-eater very common in California 40
million years ago. Fossil bones of the sabre-tooth cat have been
found in abundance preserved in the tar pits of Rancho La Brea in
Los Angeles.