There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Radius to humerus ratios have a strong correlation to the relative robusiticity and density of a species.
This table is from Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives by Mauricio Anton.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Note how low the ratio is for Smilodon, supporting the idea that this is a freakishly robust animal.
Diedrich (2011) mentions a female specimen of P. spelaea spelaea with the following dimensions:
*This image is copyright of its original author
Thus, the radius/humerus ratio for this holotype is 0.903, essentially identical to the modern lion. I'm slowly becoming more inclined to accept the "leo" addition to the cave lion name. Skull differences are even found between the tiger subspecies, and might be a better characteristic for subspeciation rather than speciation. Body-wise, the lion and P. spelaea sit in exactly the same unique class. The jaguar and leopard are far, far off from even P. atrox in body characteristics.