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Mitogenomics of the extinct cave lion, Panthera spelaea (Goldfuss, 1810), resolve its position within the Panthera cats

Abstract:
The extinct cave lion (Panthera spelaea) was an apex predator of the Pleistocene, and one of the largest felid species ever to exist. We report the first mitochondrial genome sequences for this species, derived from two Beringian specimens, one of which has been radiocarbon dated to 29,860 ± 210 14C a BP. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the placement of the cave lion as the sister taxon to populations of the modern lion (P. leo). Using newly recovered stem pantherine fossils to calibrate a molecular clock, we estimate that P. spelaeaand P. leodiverged about 1.89 million years ago (95% credibility interval: 1.23–2.93 million years), highlighting the likely position of this extinct carnivore as a distinct species.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.5334/oq.24

Authors



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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/00k4n6c32
Grant:
FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF-298820
Programme:
Seventh Framework Programme
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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03hz8wd80
Grant:
R52-A5062


Publisher:
Ubiquity Press
Journal:
Open Quaternary More from this journal
Volume:
2
Issue:
4
Pages:
1-11
Publication date:
2016-06-23
Acceptance date:
2016-05-18
DOI:
EISSN:
2055-298X


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:629619
UUID:
uuid:9d4f84e6-64c6-49fd-a1dc-a981ba7e8028
Local pid:
pubs:629619
Source identifiers:
629619
Deposit date:
2016-06-24

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