Mitogenomics of the Extinct Cave Lion, Panthera spelaea (Goldfuss, 1810), Resolve its Position within the Panthera Cats

• DOI: 10.5334/oq.24
• Publication Date: 2016-06-25T06:13:25Z
• Authors: Ross Barnett; Marie Lisandra Ze...; André Elias Rodri...; Simon Y. W. Ho; Grant Zazula; Nobuyuki Yamaguchi; Beth Shapiro; Irina V. Kirillova; Greger Larson; M. Thomas P. Gilbert
• Keywords: Carnivore; Sister group

The extinct cave lion (Panthera spelaea) was an apex predator of the Pleistocene, and one largest felid species ever to exist. We report first mitochondrial genome sequences for this species, derived from two Beringian specimens, which has been radiocarbon dated 29,860 ± 210 14C a BP. Phylogenetic analysis confirms placement as sister taxon populations modern (P. leo). Using newly recovered stem pantherine fossils calibrate molecular clock, we estimate that P. spelaea leo diverged about 1.89 million years ago (95% credibility interval: 1.23–2.93 years), highlighting likely position carnivore distinct species.