When did saber tooth tigers live and when did they become extinct?

Saber-toothed tigers, specifically the most well-known species, Smilodon, lived during the Pleistocene Epoch, approximately 2.5 million years ago until about 10,000 years ago. They thrived in North and South America, particularly in regions like the La Brea Tar Pits in California. Their extinction coincided with the end of the last Ice Age, likely due to a combination of climate change and the decline of their prey species.