{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,4]],"date-time":"2026-06-04T03:48:00Z","timestamp":1780544880730,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,4]],"date-time":"2021-08-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1628035200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Quaternary"],"abstract":"<jats:p>A preliminary description is presented of the well-preserved frozen mummies of two cubs of the extinct cave lion Panthera spelaea (finds of 2017\u20132018, Semyuelyakh River, Yakutia, eastern Siberia, Russia). The fossil lion cubs were found in close proximity, but they do not belong to the same litter, since their radiocarbon ages differ: the female (named \u2018Sparta\u2019) was dated to 27,962 \u00b1 109 uncal years BP, and the male (named \u2018Boris\u2019) was dated to 43,448 \u00b1 389 uncal years BP. The lion cubs have similar individual ages, 1\u20132 months. The general tone of the colour of the fur coat of Sparta is greyish to light brown, whereas, in Boris, the fur is generally lighter, greyish yellowish. It is, therefore, possible that light colouration prevailed with age in cave lions and was adaptive for northern snow-covered landscapes. The article discusses the results of computed tomography of cubs of the cave lion, the possible reasons for their death, and the peculiarities of their existence in the Siberian Arctic.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/quat4030024","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,4]],"date-time":"2021-08-04T08:47:52Z","timestamp":1628066872000},"page":"24","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["The Preliminary Analysis of Cave Lion Cubs Panthera spelaea (Goldfuss, 1810) from the Permafrost of Siberia"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2360-7740","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gennady G.","family":"Boeskorov","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Diamond and Precious Metals Geology Institute, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 39 Prospect Lenina, 677980 Yakutsk, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Valery V.","family":"Plotnikov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Academy of Sciences of Sakha Republic, Lenin Avenue 33, 677007 Yakutsk, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Albert V.","family":"Protopopov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Academy of Sciences of Sakha Republic, Lenin Avenue 33, 677007 Yakutsk, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gennady F.","family":"Baryshnikov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoological Institute, RAS, 1 Universitetskaya Embankment, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8251-0618","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Philippe","family":"Fosse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MMSH, LAMPEA UMR 7269 CNRS, Aix Marseille Universit\u00e9, 5 rue du Ch\u00e2teau de l\u2019Horloge, BP 647, CEDEX 2, 13094 Aix-en-Provence, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Love","family":"Dal\u00e9n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius v\u00e4g 20C, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden"},{"name":"Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David W. G.","family":"Stanton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius v\u00e4g 20C, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden"},{"name":"Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden"},{"name":"School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Innokenty S.","family":"Pavlov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Academy of Sciences of Sakha Republic, Lenin Avenue 33, 677007 Yakutsk, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Naoki","family":"Suzuki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for High-Dimensional Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, Jikei University, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexey N.","family":"Tikhonov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zoological Institute, RAS, 1 Universitetskaya Embankment, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"4","article-title":"Exterior of the mammoth","volume":"1","author":"Vereshchagin","year":"1999","journal-title":"Cranium"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Lazarev, P.A. (2008). Large Mammals of the Antropogene of Yakutia, Nauka Publ.. (In Russian)."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Cretin, C., and Madelaine, S. (2018). Le mammoth Laineux. Biologie et Adaptation aux Conditions Glaciaires. Memoire de Mammoth, Musee National de Prehistoire Print."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2262","DOI":"10.1016\/j.quascirev.2011.02.010","article-title":"Woolly rhino discovery in the lower Kolyma River","volume":"30","author":"Boeskorov","year":"2011","journal-title":"Quat. Sci. Rev."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1007\/s13364-018-0362-4","article-title":"A study of a frozen mummy of a wild horse from the Holocene of Yakutia, East Siberia, Russia","volume":"63","author":"Boeskorov","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mammal. Res."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1016\/j.quaint.2015.11.084","article-title":"The Yukagir Bison: Analysis of a complete frozen mummy of the bison, Bison priscus from the early Holocene of Northern Eurasia","volume":"406","author":"Boeskorov","year":"2016","journal-title":"Quat. Int."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"24","article-title":"Lions\u2014From the Pleistocene to the present. What did the cubs of a lion from Yakutia tell us about?","volume":"6","author":"Mashchenko","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nauka I Zhizn Sci. Life"},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Protopopov, A.V., Potapova, O., Kharlamova, A., Boeskorov, G.G., Maschenko, E.N., Shapiro, B., Soares, A., Pavlov, I., Plotnikov, V., and Klimovskii, A. (2016). The Frozen Cave Lion ((Panthera spelaea  (Goldfuss, 1810)) Newborn Cubs from Eastern Siberia, Russia: The first data on early ontogeny of the extinct species. PA J. Vertebr. Paleontol., 209. Available online: https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/309910192."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1038\/s42003-020-0806-7","article-title":"Biomolecular analyses reveal the age, sex and species identity of a near-intact Pleistocene bird carcass","volume":"3","author":"Dussex","year":"2020","journal-title":"Commun. Biol."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Gromov, I.M., Gureev, A.A., Novikov, G.A., Sokolov, I.I., Strelkov, P.P., and Chapskii, K.K. (1963). Fauna SSSR. Mlekopitayushie. Opredelitel mlekopitaiushikh. Chast 2. (Kitoobraznye, Khishnye, Lastonogie, Neparnopalye, Parnopalye), Academy of Sciences of the USSR Publ. House. (In Russian)."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-69474-1","article-title":"Early Pleistocene origin and extensive intra-species diversity of the extinct cave lion","volume":"10","author":"Stanton","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1927","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1146971","article-title":"Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing of Mitochondria from Ancient Hair Shafts","volume":"317","author":"Gilbert","year":"2007","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1096-8644(199804)105:4<539::AID-AJPA10>3.0.CO;2-1","article-title":"Improved DNA Extraction from Ancient Bones Using Silica-Based Spin Columns","volume":"105","author":"Yang","year":"1998","journal-title":"Am. J. Phys. Anthropol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Meyer, M., and Kircher, M. (2010). Illumina Sequencing Library Preparation for Highly Multiplexed Target Capture and Sequencing. Cold Spring Harb. Protoc., 5.","DOI":"10.1101\/pdb.prot5448"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1395","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2015.04.007","article-title":"Complete Genomes Reveal Signatures of Demographic and Genetic Declines in the Woolly Mammoth","volume":"25","author":"Palkopoulou","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9451","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1921046117","article-title":"RepeatModeler2 for Automated Genomic Discovery of Transposable Element Families","volume":"117","author":"Flynn","year":"2020","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1754","DOI":"10.1093\/bioinformatics\/btp324","article-title":"Fast and Accurate Short Read Alignment with Burrows-Wheeler Transform","volume":"25","author":"Li","year":"2009","journal-title":"Bioinformatics"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033822200003672","article-title":"Discussion: Reporting of 14C data","volume":"19","author":"Stuiver","year":"1977","journal-title":"Radiocarbon"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033822200033865","article-title":"Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates","volume":"51","year":"2009","journal-title":"Radiocarbon"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1869","DOI":"10.2458\/azu_js_rc.55.16947","article-title":"IntCal13 and Marine13 Radiocarbon age calibration curves 0\u201350,000 years cal BP","volume":"55","author":"Reimer","year":"2013","journal-title":"Radiocarbon"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"725","DOI":"10.1017\/RDC.2020.41","article-title":"The IntCal20 Northern Hemisphere radiocarbon age calibration curve (0\u201355 cal kBP)","volume":"62","author":"Reimer","year":"2020","journal-title":"Radiocarbon"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7998.1978.tb03317.x","article-title":"Age determination of the African lion (Panthera leo)","volume":"185","author":"Smuts","year":"1978","journal-title":"J. Zool."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7998.1980.tb01433.x","article-title":"Comparative growth of wild male and female lions (Panthera leo)","volume":"190","author":"Smuts","year":"1980","journal-title":"J. Zool."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Schaller, G. (1972). The Serengeti Lion: A Study of Predator-Prey Relations, University of Chicago Press."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Colahan, H., Asa, C., Azzarello-Dole, C., Boutelle, S., Briggs, M., Cox, K., Kellerman, E., Murray, S., New, E., and Pukazhenthi, B. (2012). AZA Lion Species Survival Plan. Lion Care Manual, Association of Zoos and Aquariums."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-1090.1968.tb00436.x","article-title":"Comparative growth rates of hand-reared big cats","volume":"8","year":"1968","journal-title":"Int. Zoo Yearb."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1134\/S0012496620030011","article-title":"First Description of the Fur of Two Cubs of Fossil Cave Lion Panthera spelaea (Goldfuss, 1810) Found in Yakutia in 2017 and 2018","volume":"492","author":"Chernova","year":"2020","journal-title":"Dokl. Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Scott, J., and Scott, A. (2002). Big Cat Diary: Lion, Harper Collins Press."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"716","DOI":"10.1086\/284097","article-title":"Adaptations of female lions to infanticide by incoming males","volume":"121","author":"Packer","year":"1983","journal-title":"Am. Nat."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Macdonald, D. (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals, Facts on File."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guthrie, R.D. (1990). Frozen Fauna of the Mammoth Steppe. The Story of Blue Babe, University of Chicago Press.","DOI":"10.7208\/chicago\/9780226159713.001.0001"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1017\/S0952836904005242","article-title":"Evolution of the mane and group-living in the lion (Panthera leo): A review","volume":"263","author":"Yamaguchi","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Zool."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"1","article-title":"Dental sex dimorphism in European lions (Panthera leo L.) of the Upper Pleistocene: Palaeoecological and palaeoethological implications","volume":"21","author":"Turner","year":"1984","journal-title":"Ann. Zool. Fenn."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Boeskorov, G.G., and Baryshnikov, G.F. (2013). Late Quaternary Carnivorous Mammals of Yakutia, Nauka Publ. House. (In Russian)."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Yudin, I.G., and Yudina, E.V. (2009). Tiger of the Russian Far East, Dalnauka Publ.. (In Russian)."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Heptner, V.G., Naumov, N.P., Yurgenson, P.B., Sludsky, A.A., Chirkova, A.F., and Bannikov, A.G. (1967). Mammals of the Soviet Union. Sea Cows and Carnivores, Vysshaya Shkola Publ.. (In Russian)."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Bibikov, D.I. (1985). Systematics and Variability. The Wolf. History, Systematics, Morphology, Ecology, Nauka Publ.. (In Russian)."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"17","article-title":"Les f\u00e9lins dans l\u2019art quaternaire","volume":"20","author":"Nougier","year":"1965","journal-title":"Pr\u00e9histoire Sp\u00e9l\u00e9ologie Ari\u00e9geoises"},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Guthrie, R.D. (2006). The Nature of Paleolithic Art, University of Chicago Press."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Clottes, J., and Az\u00e9ma, M. (2005). Les f\u00e9lins de la grotte Chauvet, Seuil Publ.","DOI":"10.3406\/bspf.2005.13349"},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Brugal, J.P., Gardeisen, A., and Zucker, A. (2011). Ours et lion; r\u00e9fl\u00e9xion sur la place des carnivores dans l\u2019art pal\u00e9olithique. Pr\u00e9dateurs dans tous leurs \u00e9tats: \u00c9volution, Biodiversit\u00e9, Interactions, Mythes, Symboles. XXXI Rencontres Internationales D\u2019arch\u00e9ologie et D\u2019histoire d\u2019Antibes, \u00c9ditions APDCA."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1644\/1545-1410(2005)762[0001:PL]2.0.CO;2","article-title":"Panthera Leo","volume":"762","author":"Haas","year":"2005","journal-title":"Mamm. Species"}],"container-title":["Quaternary"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2571-550X\/4\/3\/24\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T06:40:09Z","timestamp":1760164809000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2571-550X\/4\/3\/24"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,4]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,9]]}},"alternative-id":["quat4030024"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/quat4030024","relation":{},"ISSN":["2571-550X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2571-550X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,4]]}}}