The Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea and Panthera fossilis)

[tigerluver]

Just some data on morphological difference. Two robust craniomandibular morphological studies found P. spelaea as distinct in this regard from P. leo (Sotnikova and Nikolsky 2006, Christiansen 2006). There is not much post-cranial analysis. Looking at limb ratios and proportions, the cave lion was similarly a long legged, tall, and lean (but likely more robust) cat akin to the modern lions.

Two, the new paper remarks that there was no significant genetic exchange between the two forms since 500 kya. Part of the definition of speciation is reproductive isolation. No definition of speciation takes into account the timeline. Time in itself has no value, it's the amount of change in the given time frame. Read into punctuated equilibrium if interested. Of course, the lion-like cats are most closely related to lions. The rest of discussion is due to man's necessity to neatly classify things. Remember that the idea of species is not a natural concept, it is just a man-made way of trying to fulfill our need for the rationalization of our surroundings. Reply