TimeLine of the 'Big Cat' species

Time Lion Tiger Leopard Jaguar Cheetah
2 m years   Primitive tigers found in S.E Asia. Common ancestry - primitive leopard species evolved in central Asia and spread into Africa. Acinonyx.pardinensis Giant Cheetah found in Europe. Spreading out across Africa and Asia.
    Populations spread out to the west. Isolation of localised forms in S.E Asia Early jaguars, (P.onca.augusta)where larger and longer leged. A.studeri found in North America.
1 m years   Giant species evolves in China. Leopards spread into Europe - Jaguars spread across land bridge between Asia and N.America  
           
750,000          
  Giant Lion form found in East Africa (lineage now disputed)     Gradual shortening of legs and decrease in body size - possible due to changes in climate and vegitation.  
500,000          
250,000 Lion spreads to Eurasia   speciation due to climatic changes    
  Cave Lion (P.spelaea) in Europe and (P.atrox) in the Americas. Reduction in body size Complex pattern of sub-species evolve in Europe and Middle East    
100,000 Lions die out in Americas and Europe due to climatic and vegetation changes.     Further climatic and habitat changes bring jaguar close to its present day form A.trumani in N.America. It is suggested that this species possibly evolved from puma ancestors.

© 1997 Andrew Garman