CRANIOMANDIBULAR MORPHOLOGY AND PHYLOGENETIC AFFINITIES OF PANTHERA ATROX: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EVOLUTION AND PALEOBIOLOGY OF THE LION LINEAGE.

The article discusses the craniomandibular morphology and phylogenetic affinities of Panthera atrox. The cranial, mandibular and denial morphology of Panthera atrox were compared with those of extant lions, jaguars and tigers using bivariate, multivariate and shape analyses. Such analyses found that the skull of Panthera atrox has lion affinities. In terms of mandibular morphology, Panthera atrox is more similar to jaguar and tigers, with their mandible showing a number of traits not present among extant pantherines.