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.
--- Peter Broekhuijsen ---

  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
First Lions in Africa

India brotherbear Offline
Grizzly Enthusiast
#1

My question is: Did lions share the environment with the primitive bear, Agriotherium africanum?
2 users Like brotherbear's post
Reply

United Kingdom Spalea Offline
Wildanimal Lover
******
#2

I just read (wikipedia) that the Agriotherium africanum has been living from 13,6 to 2,5 millions years ago, ie. for 12 millions years during the Miocene ? Thus I don't think he shared his environment with african lions... Perhaps with the first forms of panthera leo fossilis... But I seriously doubt if the agriotherium africanum didn't live in Africa during the pleistocene .
4 users Like Spalea's post
Reply

United States GrizzlyClaws Offline
Canine Expert
*****
Moderators
#3

I think the African species of Agriotherium was likely extinct prior to the emergence of the earliest lion.

According to the newest research, the Cave lions were likely descended from these earliest African lions that dated more than 2 million years ago, but I don't think they have ever met the Agriotherium.
3 users Like GrizzlyClaws's post
Reply

India brotherbear Offline
Grizzly Enthusiast
#4

Thank you GrizzlyClaws and Spalea. I have often wondered about that.
2 users Like brotherbear's post
Reply

United States tigerluver Offline
Prehistoric Feline Expert
*****
Moderators
#5

A. africanum was a Pliocene species, and as the others have said, likely missed coexisting with either cave lion or modern lion. It likely did coexist with the stem group of lions, although.
4 users Like tigerluver's post
Reply

United Kingdom Spalea Offline
Wildanimal Lover
******
#6

In my previous post (#2) I have mistaken the Miocene with the Pliocene. Agriotherium africanum is a Pliocene specie and the lions, spalea then modern, appeared after during the Pleistocene.
3 users Like Spalea's post
Reply

United States GrizzlyClaws Offline
Canine Expert
*****
Moderators
#7

(07-04-2016, 05:10 AM)tigerluver Wrote: A. africanum was a Pliocene species, and as the others have said, likely missed coexisting with either cave lion or modern lion. It likely did coexist with the stem group of lions, although.

Coincidentally, Panthera spelaea genetically diverged from the modern lion roughly about the period as Homo erectus diverged from the modern human, so they should both belong to the migration wave dated back to 2 million years ago.

Do you think what reason has caused those different species of hominid and felid in Africa to migrate?

The only difference is that Panthera leo is likely the stem group for all lion-like cats in Africa, while some lions have evolved into several different species due some very long period of genetic isolation.

In comparison, Homo sapiens is not the stem group for the hominid, since this species is relatively young and only evolved around 0.2 million years ago.
3 users Like GrizzlyClaws's post
Reply

Sanju Offline
Senior member
*****
#8

@GrizzlyClaws Yes, you are correct. You and @BorneanTiger are my favorite posters.
1 user Likes Sanju's post
Reply






Users browsing this thread:
1 Guest(s)

About Us
Go Social     Subscribe  

Welcome to WILDFACT forum, a website that focuses on sharing the joy that wildlife has on offer. We welcome all wildlife lovers to join us in sharing that joy. As a member you can share your research, knowledge and experience on animals with the community.
wildfact.com is intended to serve as an online resource for wildlife lovers of all skill levels from beginners to professionals and from all fields that belong to wildlife anyhow. Our focus area is wild animals from all over world. Content generated here will help showcase the work of wildlife experts and lovers to the world. We believe by the help of your informative article and content we will succeed to educate the world, how these beautiful animals are important to survival of all man kind.
Many thanks for visiting wildfact.com. We hope you will keep visiting wildfact regularly and will refer other members who have passion for wildlife.

Forum software by © MyBB