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.
Within historic times, the lion is unique in the fact that he is a social predator. We can sometimes witness some amount of group cooperation among other big cats but nothing to compare with a pride of lions. My question is: What big cats of the distant past were group-hunters and what evidence do we have?
Difficult question... We can believe that panthera atrox was also a sociable predator. On what basis though ? Because he lived on open and cleared spaces contrary to the cave lion which would have lived in forests ? Cave lions, however, which are said to have been able to hunt in groups the cave bears during their hibernation.
Perhaps we can pretend that, fundamentally, as concerns the biological behaviour, through the ages, past and actual, the lions were and are sociable cats.
(08-03-2016, 09:37 AM)Spalea Wrote: Smilodon fatalis social ?
How was it totally proved ? Was it not only a presumption ?
Because their fossils were discovered in much larger number than Panthera atrox.
It is likely that Smilodon fatalis was the one that played the role as the socialized cat. Since Panthera atrox was a different species of lion, so they might not have the identical behavior as their modern cousins.
08-15-2016, 04:49 AM( This post was last modified: 08-15-2016, 04:52 AM by Polar )
Were the other Smilodon species social? S. populator was quite larger than the other two species, and this may be from a greater lack of social co-operation and social life, but that is only my premise.
