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Where did the Pantherinae lineage first emerge?

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Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) with tufted ears and spotted fur walking through snow in a winter landscape. — feline The Eurasian lynx (*Lynx lynx*), a member of the family Felidae, can be found in forests that range from Scandinavia to far eastern Russia. It is the largest member of the genus *Lynx* and the third largest predator in Europe.

Genetic studies of both living and fossil specimens indicate that the Pantherinae lineage first emerged in central Asia approximately 16 million years ago, before subsequently spreading to other continents.1