Abstract
A preliminary description is presented of the well-preserved frozen mummies of two cubs of the extinct cave lion Panthera spelaea (finds of 2017–2018, Semyuelyakh River, Yakutia, eastern Siberia, Russia). The fossil lion cubs were found in close proximity, but they do not belong to the same litter, since their radiocarbon ages differ: the female (named ‘Sparta’) was dated to 27,962 ± 109 uncal years BP, and the male (named ‘Boris’) was dated to 43,448 ± 389 uncal years BP. The lion cubs have similar individual ages, 1–2 months. The general tone of the colour of the fur coat of Sparta is greyish to light brown, whereas, in Boris, the fur is generally lighter, greyish yellowish. It is, therefore, possible that light colouration prevailed with age in cave lions and was adaptive for northern snow-covered landscapes. The article discusses the results of computed tomography of cubs of the cave lion, the possible reasons for their death, and the peculiarities of their existence in the Siberian Arctic.
Highlights
IntroductionIntroduction published maps and institutional affilThe Pleistocene Siberian Arctic zone was replete with large mammals and is astonishingly different from the Arctic zone of the present day
Introduction published maps and institutional affilThe Pleistocene Siberian Arctic zone was replete with large mammals and is astonishingly different from the Arctic zone of the present day
Radiocarbon dating showed that both individuals lived during the Karginian interstadial of Late Pleistocene, Boris was estimated to be 43,448 ± 389 years BP old (IAAA180050), while Sparta was estimated to be 27,962 ± 109 years BP old (IAAA-181499)
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilThe Pleistocene Siberian Arctic zone was replete with large mammals and is astonishingly different from the Arctic zone of the present day. Along with mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), bison (Bison priscus), and saiga (Saiga tatarica), lived the cave lion (Panthera spelaea), a close relative of contemporary AfroAsiatic lion P. leo L. It was on top of the trophic pyramid of the land polar ecosystem, being a part of the large Pleistocene carnivore guild alongside wolf Canis lupus L., wolverine Gulo gulo L. and brown bear Ursus arctos L. It is still unknown exactly how cave lions adapted to life in the harsh conditions of the high latitudes with their rapid season periodicity, strong winds, and cold and long winters with associated continuous nights. There are only four such finds of Panthera spelaea cubs, all in varying states of iations
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