Eurasian cave lion

Late Pleistocene: The cave lion (Panthera spelaea) probably evolved in Europe less than 600,000 years ago and was genetically distinct from the modern lion living in Africa and Asia. It became extinct about 13,000 years ago.

The Eurasian cave lion, European cave lion, Steppe lion, or Arctic tiger (Panthera spelaea) is an extinct subspecies of lion. It is known from fossils and many examples of prehistoric art. Essentially, it was a plus-sized cat that roamed the vast expanse of Eurasia, feasting on big prey, including prehistoric horses and woolly mammoths.

Mountain Lion

The largest lions in history – American lions – ruled in North and South America, and thus became the hallmark of the Pleistocene landscape.

When beasts ruled the land and the top of the food chain, what animal would you have been?

Meet some of the prehistoric species featured in the series.

The Eurasian cave lion, European cave lion, Steppe lion, or Arctic tiger (Panthera spelaea) is an extinct subspecies of lion. It is known from fossils and many examples of prehistoric art. Essentially, it was a plus-sized cat that roamed the vast expanse of Eurasia, feasting on big prey, including prehistoric horses and woolly mammoths.

Two Pleistocene American lions (Panthera leo atrox) battle a short-faced bear (Arctodus Simus) over a carcass. The extinct North American short-faced bear, which weighed up to 2,500 lbs, disappeared about 11,000 years ago. (Roman Yevseyev)