Steppe Lion
Panthera spelaea
Conservation Status
Data DeficientMammalia · Carnivora · Felidae
About
Panthera spelaea, commonly known as the cave lion, is an extinct Panthera species that was native to Eurasia and northwest North America during the Pleistocene epoch. Genetic analysis of ancient DNA has revealed that while closely related, it was a distinct species genetically isolated from the modern lion, with the genetic divergence between the two species estimated at around 500,000 years ago.
Fun Fact
ft) and body mass of 400–500 kilograms (880–1,100 lb), respectively, making them among the largest cats to have ever lived.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Distributed in the Iberian Peninsula, Italian Peninsula, Southeast Europe, Great Britain, Central Europe, the East European Plain, the Ural Mountains, most of Northeast Asia (ranging as far south as Northeast China, Japan, and possibly the Korean peninsula), and across the Bering land bridge into Alaska, Yukon, and possibly Alberta.
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
000 years
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance