# Cave lion (*Panthera spelaea*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/cave-lion  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The cave lion (Panthera spelaea) is a mammal in the big cats subgroup, belonging to the family Felidae and the subfamily Pantherinae. It is placed in the genus Panthera, the suborder Feliformia and the order Carnivora, within the class Mammalia and the phylum Chordata. Its scientific name carries the authority (Goldfuss, 1810), and other English names for it are Steppe lion and Eurasian cave lion.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Mammalia
- order: Carnivora
- family: Felidae
- genus: Panthera
- species: *Panthera spelaea* (Goldfuss, 1810)

Synonyms: *Felis spelaea*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the cave lion?

The cave lion is a mammal in the big cats subgroup. It belongs to the family Felidae in the order Carnivora.

### What is the scientific name of the cave lion?

The scientific name of the cave lion is Panthera spelaea, placing it in the genus Panthera.

### Who named the cave lion and when?

The scientific name Panthera spelaea carries the authority (Goldfuss, 1810).

### What other names does the cave lion have?

The cave lion is also called the Steppe lion and the Eurasian cave lion.

### What family and subfamily does the cave lion belong to?

The cave lion belongs to the family Felidae and the subfamily Pantherinae, within the suborder Feliformia.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Cave lion (Panthera spelaea). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/cave-lion