The Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea and Panthera fossilis)

[GrizzlyClaws]

I think Panthera shawi is indeed the source of those late lion species such as Panthera spelaea/Panthera fossilis/Panthera atrox/Panthera leo.

Now I hypothesize that Panthera spelaea is likely the first offshoot that split off from Panthera shawi in about 2 million years ago, then followed by Panthera fossilis in about 1 million years ago. Although Panthera fossilis went full extinction in the late Pleistocene, but it is believed that the remaining Panthera fossilis population had evolved into Panthera atrox.

Finally, the leftover population of Panthera shawi in Africa had eventually evolved into Panthera leo, and it didn't migrate out of Africa until 100,000 years ago. Reply