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Social Big Cats

India brotherbear Offline
Grizzly Enthusiast
#1

Within historic times, the lion is unique in the fact that he is a social predator. We can sometimes witness some amount of group cooperation among other big cats but nothing to compare with a pride of lions. My question is: What big cats of the distant past were group-hunters and what evidence do we have?
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Spalea Offline
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#2

Difficult question... We can believe that panthera atrox was also a sociable predator. On what basis though ? Because he lived on open and cleared spaces contrary to the cave lion which would have lived in forests ? Cave lions, however, which are said to have been able to hunt in groups the cave bears during their hibernation.

Perhaps we can pretend that, fundamentally, as concerns the biological behaviour, through the ages, past and actual, the lions were and are sociable cats.

To be continued...
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Canada GrizzlyClaws Offline
Canine Expert
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#3

Panthera leo is completely social, while the prehistoric species were semi-social.
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United States Pckts Offline
Bigcat Enthusiast
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#4

(08-02-2016, 10:16 PM)GrizzlyClaws Wrote: Panthera leo is completely social, while the prehistoric species were semi-social.

But how much "semi-sociability" are we talking about?

More or less social than a Tiger?
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India brotherbear Offline
Grizzly Enthusiast
#5

What of Panthera arox, Smilodon fatalis, or Homotherium serum? 
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Canada GrizzlyClaws Offline
Canine Expert
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#6
( This post was last modified: 08-03-2016, 09:13 AM by GrizzlyClaws )

(08-02-2016, 10:20 PM)Pckts Wrote:
(08-02-2016, 10:16 PM)GrizzlyClaws Wrote: Panthera leo is completely social, while the prehistoric species were semi-social.

But how much "semi-sociability" are we talking about?

More or less social than a Tiger?

Akin to the Asiatic lions, males are lone hunters, but females and cubs lived together.

However, they were a different species of lion and totally extinct right now, so we cannot exactly elaborate their social structure and behavior.
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Canada GrizzlyClaws Offline
Canine Expert
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Moderators
#7

(08-03-2016, 03:26 AM)brotherbear Wrote: What of Panthera arox, Smilodon fatalis, or Homotherium serum? 

Panthera atrox: semi-social

Smilodon fatalis: social

Homotherium serum: solitary
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Spalea Offline
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#8

Smilodon fatalis social ? 

How was it totally proved ? Was it not only a presumption ?
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Canada GrizzlyClaws Offline
Canine Expert
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#9

(08-03-2016, 09:37 AM)Spalea Wrote: Smilodon fatalis social ? 

How was it totally proved ? Was it not only a presumption ?

Because their fossils were discovered in much larger number than Panthera atrox.

It is likely that Smilodon fatalis was the one that played the role as the socialized cat. Since Panthera atrox was a different species of lion, so they might not have the identical behavior as their modern cousins.
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United States Polar Offline
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#10
( This post was last modified: 08-15-2016, 04:52 AM by Polar )

Were the other Smilodon species social? S. populator was quite larger than the other two species, and this may be from a greater lack of social co-operation and social life, but that is only my premise.
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Canada GrizzlyClaws Offline
Canine Expert
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Moderators
#11

Very likely, since Smilodon populator dwelled in the grassland of the South America, so being social has more advantage in this type of environment.
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