American Lion (Panthera atrox)

[Spalea]

@Sully :

About #88: very interesting the link you shared. What can we conclude: does the mystery of the big cats' extinction remain unsolved ? Or do we have to accept the gradual extinction thesis ?

An other problem: contrary to extant lions, American lion would more often concentrate their appetite on meat (as extant cheetahs do), whereas saber tooth cats did the same on bones. Your link indicates that the lion's teeth support better the pression than the saber tooth cat does. Thus, did the saber tooth cat take more risks when eating ? Because on the other hand we also consider that saber tooth cats enjoyed a less powerful bite than the modern lions. Do we have to reconsider our American lion's depiction ?

Perhaps too the saber tooth cats were more stressed than American lions when they were eating ? As stressed as the modern lions (frenzy of the whole pride eating a big prey ?) ? And if the American lions were not so stressed, but nevertheless having disappeared so what ? They don't see anything (extinction) coming.

Sorry I try to consider all the possibilities and the mystery remains. Perhaps something is lacking for me. What about you ? Reply