Smilodon populator vs. Polar Bear

[Infinity Blade]

I think that sentiment is a product of the perception of the average weight of S. populator. 400+ kg individuals don't seem to have been average; 220-360 kg seems more typical (Christiansen, 2005->).

For the record, if we were talking a large 400+ kg S. populator against an equivalent-sized male polar bear, I'd actually bet my money on the cat.

[DonaldCengXiongAzuma]

Front limbs.

Of all the morphologic features that typify bears, the front limbs and associated skeletal infrastructure are the most distinctive. They are also diagnostic of the bear life strategy (see Life strategy). No other terrestrial vertebrate of its size--certainly no other large carnivore--has front limbs that are as flexible, powerfully built, and mounted with such dexterous paws. Nor do any comparable-sized carnivores have such out-sized claws...claws which are clearly "designed" to be powered by the muscular arms and shoulders to either climb trees, extract food from a durable matrix (i.e., dig), or grapple with and subdue large prey such as seals, moose, and elk. What follows is a summary of the evidence produced over the years elaborating on and substantiating the preceding thumbnail sketch. You will have to forgive me for the abundance that follows, but it is reflective of the extent to which I see this aspect of bear morphology as key to understanding the overall bear life strategy--as well as niche.



www.allgrizzly.org/front-limbs

Credited to Warsaw.


BEARS HAVE ALSO MORE POWERFUL BICEPS MUSCLES THAN THOSE OF FELIDS:



"Among these traits, the intertubercular groove

morphology has interesting functional implications: the tendon

of the muscle biceps brachii runs into this groove, with the

transversal humeral ligament (developed between both the

greater and the lesser tubercles) keeping the tendon in place

inside the groove (Evans 1993; Barone 2010). As described

previously, the shape of the intertubercular groove is similar in

canids, felids, and amphicyonids in general (thus including

M. anceps), it being markedly different from that of ursids,

which have a much more closed, canal-like groove (Fig. 6).

Taylor (1974) associated this character with both the power of

the muscle biceps brachii and the degree of usage: a clearly

defined intertubercular groove, such as that of ursids, would

allow a better control of movements, and probably a powerful

muscle. According to Taylor (1974) the nandiniid Nandinia

binotata, which shows an ursid-like groove, employs this

muscle to a much greater degree than the viverrid Civettictis

civetta (with a much more open groove) and this would be

related to the greater climbing ability of the former."

www.researchgate.net/publication/264931438_Comparative_Anatomy_of_the_Shoulder_Region_in_the_Late_Miocene_Amphicyonid_Magericyon_anceps_Carnivora_Functional_and_Paleoecological_Inferences

Credited to Domain of the Bears.

[all]

While bears have very powerful forelimbs and are more build for power than felines. Smilodon was not your typical cat


"Smilodon humeri were distinct from those of non-sabertooth cats: they were thicker and more resistant to bending in both the mediolateral and craniocaudal planes. Although large felids tend to have a minor advantage over smaller felids, with slightly more resistance to bending in the proximal forelimbs [28], [29], for its size, S. fatalis had exceptional resistance to bending in the humerus. Sorkin [32] found similar results for external measurements of the humeri of both S. fatalis and P. atrox, with both of them having relatively robust humeri, but with Smilodon showing increased thickening relative to length. Although the femur also exhibits cortical thickening, it falls within the range of variation seen in extant cats, and thus follows scaling expectations."

There is only one out of three factors that is equal in smilidon populator bone structure in comparison to modern cats

The remaining two are stronger than than those of   Panthera atox and smilodon populator probably fallowed same plan plus P. atox had relatively robust forelmbs in comparison to modern cats.

But smilodon had stronger limbs still 

Now this is just based on its skeleton because we don't have much info about its musculature. 

However given the fact that smilodon had to hold its prey in order to avoid damage to its teeth among other reasons.

And the fact that his prey was significantly larger than modern species that evolved from that prey

Would suggest strong muscles as well.


Like I said before i do believe Bear has an edge because of his size

But pound per pound they are about equal