has many names, including the Eurasian cave lion and the European cave lion, Leopard (or P.spelaea) was a large cat that lived about 370,000 to 10,000 years ago. Although now extinct, fossil evidence and drawings of the cave lion in several prehistoric artworks depict it as a big cat (much larger than modern lions) with rounded protruding ears and a tufted tail. The species is named for its profusion of depictions in cave paintings. However, despite their name, they likely never lived in caves.
description and size
Cave lions are among the largest cats that ever lived. According to the average size of various cave lion fossil specimens unearthed, it is estimated that the average size of the cave lion is about 5 feet, and its length is about 11.5 feet. The average weight of a cave lion is probably around 400 kg (882 lb).
Cave lions are thought to be the largest cats that ever lived. It was 33 percent larger than a modern lion and believed to be larger than many extinct big cats such as the Siberian tiger.
In addition to the fossils they found, there are plenty of prehistoric cave paintings and depictions of cave lions in clay figurines that give us a pretty good idea of what they looked like. Cave lions likely had round, protruding ears and a long, tufted tail.
Unlike modern lions, cave lions did not have manes. However, their fur was thick, similar to modern Siberian tigers. They may also have faint tiger stripes, and the color of the upper body may vary from ochre-gray to dark ochre-brown. The rest of their body is likely to be light brown in color.
Like the fearsome predator, the cave lion has 20 sharp, retractable claws on each foot. Fossilized canine teeth of this species were unearthed in Alaska and were about 5 inches long. Cave lions must have teeth with a bite force in excess of 1800 lbs. That’s twice the bite force of a modern lion. Their stature also suggests that they were fast animals, possibly reaching a run speed of 30 mph.
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Diet: What Do Cave Lions Eat?
So what do cave lions eat? Scientists believe that, like their modern relatives, cave lions were active predators. They must have preyed on the large herbivores that coexisted with them, such as deer, horses, bison, and wild boars.
They are depicted as pack hunters in many cave paintings, similar to the hunting tactics of modern lionesses. They must have also hunted small prey, usually by grabbing them out with a single blow with their powerful front paws and pinning them down with their front feet.
Cave lions are likely to bite hard on the nape, throat or chest of their prey. Although they are fast, most of their prey outrun them, meaning they will likely hunt by stealth and ambush.
Habitat: when and where it lives
The Eurasian cave lion was one of the most ferocious carnivores of the Late Pleistocene. They are thought to have lived between 370,000 and 10,000 years ago (Pleistocene period). These big cats roam parts of Eurasia, Alaska and northwestern Canada. Cave lions are very tolerant of habitat, but they likely prefer grasslands and coniferous forests.
threats and predators
Due to their impressive speed, agility and strength, cave lions were the top predators of their time. They hunted Ice Age deer, bison and similar animals. Because of the many intact fossil remains found in cave bear habitats, it is believed that P. spelaea opportunistically preyed on hibernating cave bears. However, their many encounters did not always end in the lion’s favor, as the many remains found in these caves demonstrate. Some archaeological artifacts seem to indicate that the species had a place in Paleolithic human religious ceremonies and was probably hunted by humans.
Discovery and Fossils: Where to Find It
The earliest description of the species was made in 1810 by German paleontologist Georg August Goldfuss. He described the species under the scientific name Felis spelaea. The first fossil ever unearthed has been found in a cave in southern Germany. This dates back to the Würm Ice Age.
Since then, there have been many complete and partial fossil discoveries. Among the most impressive are two frozen cubs found in Siberia in 2015. The cubs were determined to have been preserved for up to 55,000 years, with most of their bodies intact.
A similar find in 2017 was another well-preserved cub, believed to have been about 8 weeks old when it died. A fourth find in the Siberian permafrost is another well-preserved cub. The cub’s body is well preserved, with its fur, muscles and even internal organs intact.
Extinct: When did it become extinct?
It is difficult to say exactly why the cave lion became extinct, but it is believed to have occurred about 12,000 years ago. However, experts believe that the species may have declined due to severe reductions in prey populations.
Habitat is another commonly proposed theory. It is thought that as the climate warms, shrinking forests push lions into open spaces, putting enormous pressure on their species. Another theory points to humans migrating to Europe; since both species were competing for the same prey, the lions had a hard time keeping up.
animals similar to cave lions
Existing canids similar to cave lions include:
- American Lion: black panther Also commonly known as the American Cave Lion. This pantherid cat lived in North America from the Pleistocene to the early Holocene.
- Leopard: This is an extinct prehistoric cat, thought to be the oldest species of the panthera in Africa. Fossil evidence for the existence of this species is limited. However, a canine tooth was unearthed in the Sterkfontein Cave in South Africa in the 1940s.
- Saber-toothed cat: Although these two species are not particularly related, they lived together until their extinction. The most distinctive feature of this feline species is their curved canines, which can be seen even when their mouths are closed.
- Leopard: young leopardThe idiot is an extinct cat species believed to have lived in Asia during the Pleistocene epoch. They share some similarities with cave lions.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
