What extinct big cat is known scientifically as Panthera spelaea?

The extinct big cat known scientifically as Panthera spelaea was the cave lion.

The cave lion lived across Eurasia and into northwestern North America during the Pleistocene. It was part of the mammoth-steppe ecosystem, where it hunted large prey such as reindeer, wild horses and, occasionally, cave bears. Despite its common name, it probably did not routinely live in caves; many remains were found there because caves served as dens for other animals or preserved bones well.

Panthera spelaea was closely related to the modern lion, Panthera leo, but genetic evidence supports treating it as a distinct species. Earlier classifications often used Panthera leo spelaea, reflecting the view that it was a lion subspecies. The American lion, Panthera atrox, was a related extinct species, not the answer to this question.

Cave lions disappeared near the end of the Pleistocene, roughly 14,500–14,000 years ago in much of their range. Climate change, shifting prey populations and human pressure have all been proposed as contributors to their extinction.