Cave lion cub

[Blackleopard]

There would have to be more cave paintings available in that area, lioness's are very active in groups, in that particular instance, the painter may have just captured more of the lioness's as they're higher in number and more easily visible... and perhaps some sub adult males without fully formed manes yet.  Because there are sculptures showing lions with manes, even belly manes 860 BC in Assyria.  

*This image is copyright of its original author

I realize this is thousands before that, but still like you're saying the mane hair is detectable.

In the lion below, there looks to be clear white scrape marks, the artist trying to indicate mane hair hanging from the lions throat area.

*This image is copyright of its original author

I do think its pretty clear in lion in the upper left that a layer of fur is over the shoulder area and coming down.
And then the lion on the far right clearly has a hung of fur hanging off the shoulder, this has to be some form of mane.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply