Desert Lions

[Spalea]

I think the social life in pride, big or small, is a essentiel feature of the lion. I have read that american lions lived in small groups, the cave eurasian lions did so too when we discovered in dens some bones and skulls of male lions mixed with bones  and skulls of cave bears, all of them exhibiting marks. The male lions entered the dens when the ursids were hibernating during the winter seasons in order to kill them after fierce battles. During ancient and cold periods, the scarcity of preys didn't allow to live in big prides, perhaps as the nowaday asiatic lions do. And perhaps too as concerns the Tsavo lions.
I also read that lions being social animals differences between males and females were more important compared to other felids, not only as concerns the size, but the existence of the mane, although reduced within the prehistoric species, as well. And concerning the prehistoric species these differences were bigger than those of big solitary felines like sabertooth cats or tigers.

@GuateGojira: And yes you're right, the climatic factor constitutes the mean explanation concerning the expansion of the different species and subspecies of lions during periods. I tended to underestimate it. Reply