Most creatures give the sabertooth a wide berth, but this skunk seems unconcerned. The sabertooth may be the ultimate ice age predator, but the skunk is feared, too, because of its unique system of self-defence. These stripes serve to warn off most attackers, but perhaps the sabertooth is yet to learn exactly what they mean. 

 

Stamping his feet, the skunk issues a final warning. But this big cat is still curious. But now the skunk has had enough. The dreaded sabertooth, killer of mastodons and other ice age giants, is defeated by a small but very smelly skunk.