A history of research on the cave lion Panthera spelaea ( )

Abstract

In 1810, G.A. Goldfuss was the first to identify the bones of a cave lion discovered in the Zoolithenhöhle cave (Germany), naming it Felis spelaea. But it was prehistoric man who first described it in numerous parietal and movable representations. Since the beginning of the 19th century, scientific knowledge of the cave lion Panthera (Leo) spelaea has progressed steadily, establishing its leonine character. Numerous discoveries led to paleontological studies of deposits throughout Eurasia, often in caves and linked to prehistoric sites. In the 20th century, this research benefited from the emergence of new dating methods, the development of palynology and the isotopic biochemistry of collagen. As the species' range became better defined, it expanded to include the whole of Eurasia and even North America. Finally, the 21st century is marked by the development of paleogenetics and the multiplication of synthetic studies, in many countries, while benefiting from a diffusion largely facilitated by Internet exchanges and the use of English. Phylogeny of the Felidae and understanding of the origins of Panthera spelaea are progressing rapidly. Today's knowledge makes it possible to envisage a true paleobiology of this extinct species.