What kind of “lion” was the Natodomeri lion? – a comparative analysis of the Natodomeri lion with other Pleistocene lions

Abstract

ABSTRACT The history of the lion in Africa is obscure. A giant lion was reported from Natodomeri, a MIS 8–7 site located in East Africa. Initial analysis showed intriguing features of the specimen. However, further analysis on what kind of lion (e.g. modern Panthera leo, Pleistocene Panthera spelaea) has not yet been performed. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the phylogenetic position of the Natodomeri lion through statistical morphometric analysis. To this end, the Natodomeri lion is compared with lions from Pleistocene Eurasia and Holocene Africa. Results show a surprising affinity between the Mauer lion (Panthera spelaea fossilis) and the Natodomeri lion. Such may be indicative of a more recent divergence date between P. leo and P. spelaea. However, if a divergence date between extant P. leo and Eurasian P. spelaea of 1.85 mya is used (based on recent phylogenetic studies), the close affinity between the Mauer and Natodomeri lions suggests that the Natodomeri lion is an African form of early P. spelaea. Under this theory, the Natodomeri lion may have originated through a ‘reverse’ migration of Panthera spelaea fossilis into Africa.