About Timothy Expertise I can answer all kinds of questions about the history of life on earth from single-celled organisms to plants to vertebrates, and a few about the earths geologic history. I am particularly knowledgeable about vertebrate paleontology (dinosaurs, reptiles, fish and mammals), archaeology and ancient human history. I also know more than I really should about Spider-Man and Ford Mustangs.
Experience I am from western Nebraska, which is a world-class site for mammalian fossils. I studied paleontology, archaeology and history at the University of Nebraska. While I did not become a professional paleontologist or archaeologist in the end I still study it extensively and have volunteered at several digs here in Nebraska.
Question QUESTION: Hi! Im a fellow expert, from the "Tigers" category. Any knowledge on prehistoric members of genus Panthera? I'm surprised at the scarcity of information about these animals, other than Panthera atrox and Panthera spelaea.
I hope you can help me
Best regards!
ANSWER: Malcolm-
Thanks for your question. As you have discovered, not a lot is known about prehistoric felids of the genus Pantera. Other than the two you mentioned, the only other ones I can think of are Panthera Leo Fossilis and Panthera leo vereshchagini, and not much is known about either. So, unfortunately, I cannot give you much. Felines are not my specialty, but what I can tell you is that the earliest known feline, Proailurus, lived during the Oligocene and the Miocene (About 11 million years ago). Her descendant, Pseudaelurus, came onto the scene in the mid to late Miocene. Pseudaelurus is thought to be the latest common ancestor of the two existing subfamilies of Felidae, Felinae and Pantherinae, and the extinct Machairodontinae (saber-tooths and such). So most of the fossil evidence we have is from the now extinct Machairodontinae. Another issue is that feline skeletons are so remarkably similar across species (aside from size), that it is within the realm of possibility that the two described prehistoric Pantherids might actually represent more than two actual species.
What I do know:
Panthera atrox lived in what is now North and South America. She was about 25% bigger than modern African lions, but probably looked similar and had similar habits.
Panthera leo fossilis was about the same size as atrox, but lived in what is now Germany.
Panthera spelaea was only about 10% bigger than extant lions. She liived in what is now Eurasia.
Panthera vereshchagini lived in what is now Canada. She was smaller than atrox, but larger than spelaea. She has some skull features which set her apart from other species.
Not much, but I hop it helped anyway.
Thanks
Tim
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi, Tim
Thanks for your answers. Unfortunately, I already knew what you told me :S I was more interested on prehistoric leopards and tigers , or even in prehistoric jaguars like Panthera (onca) augusta or Panthera onca messembrina.
I guess I must keep searching
Thank you a lot anyway!
Best regards
Malcolm
Answer Yeah, sorry I wasn't much help there. The felines I studied were all from sites in Nebraska and So.Dak, so I was mostly dealing with Machairodontinae, mainly Dinictis and Hoplophoneus. The literature I had as a resource was limited as well. Again, sorry I wasn't much help.
Tim
