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What Is a Cave Lion?

John Markley
John Markley

A cave lion is an animal from one of several now-extinct species or subspecies of large felines. All cave lions are members of the genus Panthera, which also includes modern lions as well as tigers, panthers, and leopards. Three subspecies, the Beringian cave lion and the Early Middle Pleistocene and Upper Pleistocene European cave lions, are closely related subspecies of the modern lion, Panthera leo. The fourth type, the American cave lion, was originally thought to be another lion subspecies but was subsequently identified as a distinct species.

Cave lions lived during the Pleistocene era, a time period that began 2,588,000 years ago and ended 11,700 years ago. It was a glacial age, or ice age, a period of low global temperatures in which large ice sheets formed at the Earth's poles and repeatedly advanced and retreated with changes in temperature. Cave lions received their name because their fossils are frequently discovered in caves, but caves are not thought to have been their usual dwelling places. Instead, scientists believe that they generally lived in grasslands and coniferous forests where they hunted prey such as horses, deer, and bison. In some cases they may have hunted bears and woolly mammoths as well.

Cave lion fossils are frequently discovered in caves.
Cave lion fossils are frequently discovered in caves.

The earliest type is the Early Middle Pleistocene European cave lion, or Panthera leo fossilis. The oldest known fossil of this subspecies is about 700,000 years old, though there are very similar fossils in Africa 1,000,000 years older. Panthera leo fossilis was significantly larger than lions today.

Its successor was Panthera leo spelaea, also called the Upper Pleistocene European cave lion or Eurasian cave lion. This subspecies species arose around 370,000 years ago and is thought to have died out about 12,000 to 14,000 years ago, though there is some evidence suggesting pockets of them surviving until only a few thousand years in the past. Its habitat spanned much of northern Eurasia, from the Iberian peninsula and the British Isles in the West to Siberia and the coasts of the Pacific Ocean in the East.

Cave lions were often the subject of cave paintings.
Cave lions were often the subject of cave paintings.

Panthera leo spelaea was smaller than its predecessor, though still bigger than the average modern lion. This subspecies was the subject of cave paintings, carvings, and sculptures created by Paleolithic humans, which portray them with fur resembling a smaller version of the manes of male lions today. Some paintings also portray them hunting in groups, which is also a characteristic of modern lions but is otherwise rare among felines.

A closely related subspecies was the Beringean cave lion, or Panthera leo vereshchagini. These animals inhabited what is now Alaska, northern Canada, and Northeastern Russia. They are somewhat larger than their European cousins but are very similar genetically and likely interbred to a great extent.

Panthera atrox,the American lion, is the only form of cave lion that is actually a separate species from modern lions. It was a huge animal, even bigger than Panthera leo fossilis and about 25% bigger than a modern lion. Its habitat covered most of the Western Americas, from stretching from Alaska to as far south as Peru. Like other cave lions, it prayed on large and medium-sized herbivores.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cave lion and how did it differ from modern lions?

The cave lion, scientifically known as Panthera spelaea, was a prehistoric species of lion that roamed parts of Europe, Asia, and North America during the last Ice Age. It was larger than the modern African lion, with some males estimated to weigh over 700 pounds. Unlike today's lions, cave lions had a thicker body, possibly longer legs, and a potentially different coat pattern, although exact coloration and mane presence are still debated among paleontologists.

When did cave lions live, and what led to their extinction?

Cave lions thrived during the Pleistocene epoch, roughly between 300,000 to 10,000 years ago. Their extinction is believed to be linked to the combination of climate change at the end of the last Ice Age and human activity. As the climate warmed, their habitat and prey availability diminished, while human hunting and competition for similar prey may have added pressure to their populations.

What did cave lions eat, and how did they hunt?

Cave lions were apex predators, feeding on large herbivores such as bison, horses, and even juvenile mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses. They likely used similar hunting tactics to modern lions, relying on stealth and strength to ambush their prey. Evidence from cave paintings suggests that they may have hunted in groups, much like today's lion prides.

Have any cave lion fossils been found, and what have they revealed?

Yes, numerous cave lion fossils have been discovered, including bones, teeth, and even some well-preserved carcasses in Siberian permafrost. These remains have provided insights into their physical structure, potential behavior, and evolutionary history. Isotopic analysis of bones has helped reconstruct their diet, while DNA studies have clarified their relationship to other big cats.

Are there any depictions of cave lions in ancient art?

Ancient humans often depicted cave lions in their art, with notable examples found in the Chauvet Cave in France. These cave paintings, which are over 30,000 years old, showcase the importance of cave lions in the lives of Paleolithic humans and provide clues about the lion's physical appearance, social behavior, and the reverence early humans may have held for this majestic predator.

Is there any effort to bring back the cave lion through de-extinction technologies?

While the concept of de-extinction is intriguing, efforts to bring back the cave lion are currently speculative and face significant ethical, technical, and ecological challenges. However, advances in genetics have led to discussions about the possibility of using DNA from well-preserved specimens to potentially resurrect this species, but such a project remains firmly in the realm of science fiction for now.

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    • Cave lion fossils are frequently discovered in caves.
      By: Moreno Soppelsa
      Cave lion fossils are frequently discovered in caves.
    • Cave lions were often the subject of cave paintings.
      By: Nomad_Soul
      Cave lions were often the subject of cave paintings.