American Lion (Panthera atrox)

[GuateGojira]

(06-16-2022, 11:37 PM)jrocks Wrote: for panthera fossilis are the specimens that waveriders mentioned the ones that are said to be able to exceed 400 kg, because i was told that the mokhnevskaya cave skull which is said to be 475 mm in total length is slightly shorter in condylobasal length than the 467.5 mm atrox skull

No, I don't remember the fossils that Wave mentioned, in fact he never showed any document, image or evidence of his claims. If those bones are published, I don't have the source, so I can't make an opinion on them, maybe @tigerluver can.

I think that the maximum weight that a Panthera species can reach is about 400 kg, taking in count that the biggest modern lions and tigers do not normally surpass the 272 kg and a maximum of about 300 kg. So, the Pleistocene cats, which are not absurdly bigger in comparison with they modern relatives, they probably weighed between 350 to 400 kg in the bigger specimens.

Here is a comparative image of the biggest skuls of three Panthera species, recorded by scientists and properly published. If we take in count hunting records (406 mm for tiger and 419 mm for lion), the difference will be even smaller:

*This image is copyright of its original author

About the Panthera spelaea fossilis skull from the Mokhnevskaya cave, check that the size of the Panthera atrox biggest specimen is slightly bigger overall.

GSL: C. 475 mm (broken).
CBL: 422 mm.
BL: 398 mm.

Now check the biggest Panthera atrox:
GSL: 467.5 mm.
CBL: 424.3 mm.
BL: 404.7 mm. 

It seems that in the other dimentions, they are about the same size too, but Panthera atrox seems to be in the lead. The skull from Chateau can't be used for comparison as is badly crushed and even its GSL is in doubt based in the evidence presented, so it could be smaller than what was reported. Reply