New evidences of the cave lion (Panthera spelaea) from the north of the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

The presence of the cave lion in the Iberian Peninsula is expanding with new finds on the Cantabrian coast. This update is recorded to a total of 56 sites from 44 locations and dated from MIS 10 to the end of the Upper Pleistocene. The new findings are studied and attributed to the Panthera spelaea species. Comparative analysis with other Eurasian sites confirms the trend of decreasing species size between the end of the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 6) and the Late Pleistocene. In addition, data on sexual dimorphism and new measurements of the deciduous teeth of one of the samples are offered.

Keywords

• middle-late pleistocene lion
• systematics
• sexual dimorphism
• northern iberian peninsula
• león del pleistoceno medio-superior
• sistemática
• dimorfismo sexual
• norte de la península ibérica