The Saber tooth cat was similar sized to the African Lion. Fundamental differences between it and the lion are evidenced by the skull and dentition, with a relatively small brain for its massive bulk. The mouth was designed to open 90 degrees to clear the sabers during the plunging action. Where a lion or puma has 30 teeth, the Saber tooth had just 26, lacking a front pre-molar on each side of the upper and lower jaw that is present in cats today.