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+--- Thread: Social Big Cats (/topic-social-big-cats)
Social Big Cats - brotherbear - 08-02-2016
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?
RE: Social Big Cats - Spalea - 08-02-2016
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...
RE: Social Big Cats - GrizzlyClaws - 08-02-2016
Panthera leo is completely social, while the prehistoric species were semi-social.
RE: Social Big Cats - Pckts - 08-02-2016
(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?
RE: Social Big Cats - brotherbear - 08-03-2016
What of Panthera arox, Smilodon fatalis, or Homotherium serum?
RE: Social Big Cats - GrizzlyClaws - 08-03-2016
(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.
RE: Social Big Cats - GrizzlyClaws - 08-03-2016
(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
RE: Social Big Cats - Spalea - 08-03-2016
Smilodon fatalis social ?
How was it totally proved ? Was it not only a presumption ?
RE: Social Big Cats - GrizzlyClaws - 08-14-2016
(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.
RE: Social Big Cats - Polar - 08-15-2016
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.
RE: Social Big Cats - GrizzlyClaws - 08-15-2016
Very likely, since Smilodon populator dwelled in the grassland of the South America, so being social has more advantage in this type of environment.