Cave lynx

Cave lynx
Jaw bone fossil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Lynx
Species:
L. pardinus
Subspecies:
†L. p. spelaeus
Trinomial name
†Lynx pardinus spelaeus
Boule, 1910

The cave lynx or Mediterranean cave lynx (Lynx spelaeus or Lynx pardinus spelaeus) is an extinct felid species that lived during the Pleistocene. It is controversially discussed to be a subspecies of the modern Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and to be a junior synonym of this species.[1]

Fossils have been found from the Middle and Late Pleistocene in Italy and France.[2] Body mass reconstructions estimate this lynx to weigh about 23 kg.[3]

References

  1. ^ Boscaini, Alberto; Alba, David M.; Beltrán, Juan F.; Moyà-Solà, Salvador; Madurell-Malapeira, Joan (2016). "Latest Early Pleistocene remains of Lynx pardinus (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Iberian Peninsula: Taxonomy and evolutionary implications". Quaternary Science Reviews. 143: 96–106. Bibcode:2016QSRv..143...96B. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.05.015. hdl:11336/182970.
  2. ^ Ghezzo, Elena; Boscaini, Alberto; Madurell-Malapeira, Joan; Rook, Lorenzo (2015). "Lynx remains from the Pleistocene of Valdemino cave (Savona, Northwestern Italy), and the oldest occurrence of Lynx spelaeus (Carnivora, Felidae)". Rendiconti Lincei. 26 (2): 87–95. doi:10.1007/s12210-014-0363-4. hdl:11336/59435. S2CID 85194755.
  3. ^ Carlo Meloro (2007). "Plio-Pleistocene large carnivores from the Italian peninsula: functional morphology and macroecology". Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”.