The Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea and Panthera fossilis)

[GrizzlyClaws]

(06-07-2018, 06:00 PM)Matias Wrote: Very interesting discovery of partial skull KNM-ND 59673 (Natodomeri Lion). follows Link of an article that explores the subject:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/...ore-reader

Reading this article, in Discussion (alternative 3), the most consensual explanation reminded me of my post # 50, where correlating the environment around these big cats is still the most plausible explanation why their size is larger.

Most Pleistocene counterparts of the modern big cats were larger and more adaptable for hunting on larger preys.

Natodomeri lion represented the giant form of the modern lion (Panthera leo), and no wonder they did rival its sister species the cave lion (Panthera spelaea) in sheer size.

And I can imagine that the Natodomeri lions also used to live in pride, and probably hunted on Pelorovis which were probably the largest bovids of all time, about twice the size of the modern Cape buffalo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelorovis Reply