2024/08/28 by Adrian Marciszak, Wiktoria Gornig · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
paper · doi:10.1016/j.hisbio.2024.100007
openalex publication_date 2024/08/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/06
The Eurasian fossil record of Panthera spelaea shows a gradual decrease in body size. The process peaking just before the extinction of the species at the end of the Late Pleistocene. The temporal trend of decreasing size particularly accelerating during MIS 2, as exemplified by the extremely small female skull from Kryshtaleva Cave. Some palaeoecological aspects of the evolutionary history and eventual extinction of Panthera spelaea are discussed. Special discussion is given on how reducing body size affects potential interactions with other carnivores. It is also an attempt to answer the question whether, did indeed this trend negatively impact the cave lion ability to survive. The conclusions were drawn on the basis of correlation with observations of contemporary related forms. • Chronosubspecies in the evolutionary lineage of Panthera spelaea . • Body size changes of Panthera spelaea ; general trend with many exceptions. • Some among possible reasons of Panthera spelaea extinctions related to body size decreasing. • Possible interactions and relationships of Panthera spelaea with canids and other felids. • Possible interactions and relationships of Panthera spelaea with ursids.