A review on Iberian and Italian occurrences of Quaternary lions

Abstract

The cave lion lineage records from Spain, Portugal, and Italy hold immense paleobiological significance, offering both recent insights and future potential for discoveries. The Iberian record is particularly noteworthy as it includes the earliest evidence of steppe lions in Western Europe, illuminating their possible migration routes. Additionally, the occurrence of cave lions in low latitude regions below 40º in both the Iberian Peninsula and Italy provides crucial information about the environmental requirements and adaptability of this lineage. Furthermore, these regions are key to understanding the replacement or substitution of cave lions by the extant lion species. Collectively, the records from the Iberian Peninsula and Italy are essential for unravelling the paleobiology of this iconic species, enhancing our understanding of their migration patterns, environmental adaptability, and evolutionary transitions.