SCIENTISTS in Spain believe they have discovered what sabre-toothed tigers ate nine million years ago.

By studying fossil sites in Cerro de los Batallones near Madrid, researchers found the big cats had a liking for prehistoric horses.

Scientists studied skeletons of two sabre-toothed tigers – one the size of a modern leopard and the other the size of a modern tiger.

To arrive at their findings, researchers studied carbon from the animals’ tooth enamel.

Dr Soledad Domingo, of the University of Michigan, said: “Analysis indicated that horses were very feasible prey of these cats.

“The smaller cat probably incorporated additional prey species from more dense woodland,” he added.

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