European Lion

European lions (Panthera leo) were almost like modern lions. The only big difference between them was that they were probably white. They were polar lions, and they had white fur. Since they were lions, you probably know that they were mammals. The European lions were carnivores. They liked to eat large herbivores like hoofed animals (deer, horses), and many other creatures that aren't able to defend themselves well enough, such as small mammoth cubs.

European lions lived 900,000-10,000 years ago, in the Quaternary period. They lived with Mammoths, big woolly rhinos, humans, Saiga antelopes, Megaloceros, and many other animals. Their closest living relative is the African Lion. European Lions were about 1.5 metres at the shoulder. European lions were a lot like modern African lions. They even share the same scientific name, which is Panthera leo. Their fossils were very common in Euorpe, which is why they are called the European lions. European lions were a bit bigger than the African lions, though. Ancient cave paintings have European lions on them, and they didn't show a mane. That could mean that European lions didn't have a mane, or that could have been females only. Males could have had a mane, but that would be hard to find out. European lions were quite successful. Lions are still alive now, which means that European lions were successful.