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cave lion
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Illustration of a cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea), an extinct large cat, shown in profile walking on all fours with a muscular build, light brown fur, and a short mane. A scale bar in the corner indicates size.
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cave lion

mammal
Also known as: Panthera leo spelaea
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Illustration of a cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea), an extinct large cat, shown in profile walking on all fours with a muscular build, light brown fur, and a short mane. A scale bar in the corner indicates size.
cave lion Cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea).

The cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea) was an extinct variety of lion known from remains found in European and English caves. These lions were among the formidable species depicted in cave art dating back to the Ice Age, roughly between 40,000 and 14,000 years ago.12

The modern lion (Panthera leo) is the second-largest cat species and is known for its social structure, living in groups called prides. Historically, lions roamed across much of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but their range has significantly decreased, with most populations now found in sub-Saharan Africa and a small, protected group in India.3

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