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.  
Time Lion Tiger Leopard Jaguar Cheetah
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.
Naming the Species - find out how scientific names are applied to the different species

Classification - find out how wild cats are grouped according to species

Evolution - find out about the history of the cat species

Table of Relationships - see how the various cat species are related and have evolved over time.

Timeline - an historic time-line of the 'big cat' species

Prehistoric Cats - find out more about the ancestors of today's wild cat species.

'Sabre-tooth' cats - there is a common misconception the the fabled 'Sabre-tooth Tiger' of prehistoric times was a direct ancestor of the modern tiger - find out more