The cave lion Panther a (Leo) spelaea and its evolution: Panthera spelaea intermedia nov. subspecies

摘要

The ancient form of the cave lion, Panthera (Leo) spelaea fossilis reported in Eurasia from the median Middle Pleistocene and the more recent one, P. (Leo) spelaea spelaea which became extinct at the last Tardiglacial (MIS 2), can be clearly distinguished by their size, but the distinction between the intermediate forms becomes more difficult. The Igue des Rameaux site (Southwestern France) yields an abundant population of cave lions related to upper Middle Pleistocene (MIS 10 to MIS 6) which allowsus to characterize a standard population of one of these intermediate forms which we call Panthera (Leo) spelaea intermedia. It is clearly different from P. spelaea fossilis because of its smaller size. But the distinction between this population and themore recent ones is more uncertain because of very variable size of the cave lions during this time span. For the best characterisation of Panthera spelaea intermedia the morphology is used and criteria of distinction established, but the chronology provides also a major indication. A small sized form from the upper Middle Pleistocene suggests P. s. intermedia, while the small sized forms of the Upper Pleistocene correspond to the more recent P. s. spelaea. The population of the Igue des Rameaux represents a new reference point for comparisons between the fossil series of Panthera spelaea of Western Europe.