Szabó János szerk.: Fragmenta Mineralogica Et Palaentologica 24-25. 2007. (Budapest, 2007)
The morphological data show that the "gombasyoegensis" remains have both some jaguar-like and lion-like tooth characters. However, the morphology of the mandible is more similar to P. onca than to P. leo, so the "gombasyoegensis" cannot be included into Panthera leo, but probably stays nearer to the Recent Panthera onca. A closer relationship to Panthera onca is supported by palaeoecological aspects (HEMMER 2001, HEMMER et. al. 2001, 2003) according to which P. onca gombasyoegensis probably lived under similar ecological circumstances, in marshlands, gallery forests and alluvial areas of rivers in Akhalkalaki (Transcaucasia) and in Mosbach (Germany) üke the Recent jaguar in (.entrai- and South-America. The faunal association of these localities included taxa that preferred swamp habitats e.g. Hippopotamus and Leutra. Comparison of Panthera onca gombasyoegensis to Panthera leo fossilis The remains of Panthera leo fossilis were recorded from Vértesszőlős, Solymár and Paks. At Vérteszőlős additionally P. onca gombasyoegensis was found. Characters of P. I. fossilis, distinguishing from P. o. gombasyoegensis: - protocone of P 3 extends strongly to palatal direction; - in P 4 , the degree of the constriction between the protocone and parastyle is bigger (in occlusal view) than in the "gombaszoegensis" specimens; - preparastyle in P 4 is underdeveloped; - P 4 is strongly thickened on the buccal side; - margin of enamel in P 4 rises gently to metastyle on the palatal side (Figure 7); - mesial edge of the paraconid of Mi is rounded; - Mi talonid is very strongly developed; on the buccal side of Mi, the margin of the enamel forms an abrupt curve to occlusal direction, under the protoconid. The measurements of the teeth and mandibles are significantly different (Table 22). Table 22 — The average size of teeth and mandible of the two taxa compared. Panthera onca gombaszoegensis Panthera leo fossilis Mi mean 20.5 29 P + mean 32.5 37.75 Mandible mean 96 ill Comparison between Panthera leo fossilis, Panthera leo spelaea and the Recent Panthera leo Ri K :i M-\ \r (1906) did noi separate the "fossilis" re-mams from Panthera leo spelaea. FREUDENBERG (1914) was the first to declare that the "fossilis specimens are not identical with those of the cave lion. According to him the most important character to distinguish "fossilis" is that the temporal region of the skull is more elongated and narrower than at the cave lion. The "fossilis" deviates from the "spelaea" and the Recent lion in having a more compressed temporal region of its skull and consequently a relatively smaller frontal part of its brain cavity (FREUDENBERG 1914). The at least subspecific treatment of the two fossil taxa was supported by other characters, for example body weight. The maximum weight of "fossilis" varied between 350-400 kg (HEMMER 2003, GUZVICA 1998) and the weight of "spelaea" could have been 10 % greater than that of the recent lion (RABEDER et al. 2000). Characters, distinguishing P. I. spelaea, from P. I. fossilis: - in P 4 the degree of the constriction (in occlusal view) between the protocone and parastyle is considerable; - preparastyle on the P 4 is not present; <= - protoconid of Mi leans in distal direction; - talonid of Mi is slightly developed; - lower margin of enamel of Mi rises occlusally under the protoconid on the buccal side, but this curve is not developed (Figure 9). According to FREUDENBERG (1914) a very important distinctive character is that the crown of P 4 is less indented, in particular it seems lower in comparison to the tooth length (Figure 8). FREUDENBERG's observation seems to be convincing, but cannot be verified by the measurements taken from the specimens studied because the adequate teeth of the two taxa have almost the same proportions (Table 23). Table 23 — Data of specimen from Hungary. Mean value of P 4 Panthera leo fossilis Panthera leo spelaea height/ length 19/36,5=52% 21/39=53% Explanation to Plate III (All in natural size) 1 a-c Panthera leo Spelaea (GOLDFUSS, 1810) — Tokod-Nagyberek, Late Pleistocene, V 64.798, P 3 ; a: occlusal surface, b: buccal view, c: palatinal view. 2 Panthera leo Spelaea (GOLDFUSS, 1810) — Igric/Pestere, bate Pleistocene, V 60.1785, P 4 és P 3 ; buccal view. 3 a-c Panthera leo Spelaea (GOLDFUSS, 1810) — Kiskevély, Late Pleistocene, Ob.2977, maxilla with P 4 ; a: palatinal view, b: occlusal view, c: occlusal surface of P 4 .
