Study reveals extinct lion species interbred with its modern cousins By Talker News Jun 3, 2026 Jun 3, 2026 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A frozen cave lion cub named Sparta, which has been radiocarbon dated to ca 32,000 years before present and genetically identified as a female. (Love Dalén via SWNS) By Stephen BeechAn extinct species oflion once interbred with its modern cousins, suggests a new study. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp?2=JD:D @7 >F=E:A=6 86?@>6D 7C@> E96 6IE:?4E 42G6 =:@? 92D C6G62=65 E92E :E C6AC6D6?E65 2 Q9:89=J 5:DE:?4EQ 6G@=FE:@?2CJ =:?6286[ H9:49 D6A2C2E65 7C@> AC6D6?E\52J =:@?D >@C6 E92? 2 >:==:@? J62CD 28@]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 7:?5:?8D[ AF3=:D965 :? 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(Love Dalén via SWNS) By Talker kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C49 E62> 2=D@ :56?E:7:65 86?6E:4 5:776C6?46D E92E =:<6=J 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96 5:DE:?4E:G6 3:@=@8J @7 42G6 =:@?D]k^Am More from this section +3 Cure for mom’s heart condition that caused fainting while eating +2 Huge drug bust reveals 2,000-foot-long tunnel from Tijuana to San Diego +3 Experts warn vaping alters genes, fruit flavors do most damage kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C496CD 7@F?5 >FE2E:@?D F?:BF6 E@ 42G6 =:@?D E92E 2C6 AC65:4E65 E@ 27764E AC@E6:? 7F?4E:@?[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2? 6I46DD @7 86?6E:4 492?86D :? 86?6D =:?<65 E@ 3C2:? 7F?4E:@?[ G:D:@?[ 8C@HE9[ 2?5 4:C4F=2E@CJ 56G6=@A>6?E]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 7:?5:?8D 2C6 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 6G:56?46 7C@> 7@DD:=D 2?5 42G6 2CE DF886DE:?8 E92E 42G6 =:@?D 5:776C65 7C@> >@56C? =:@?D :? 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A@AF=2E:@?D =:<6=J 6IA2?565 D@FE9H2C5[ 3C:?8:?8 E96> :?E@ 4@?E24E H:E9 >@56C? =:@?D :? C68:@?D :?4=F5:?8 r6?EC2= 2?5 $@FE9H6DE pD:2]k^Am The cave lion had a history of interbreeding with modern lions that was tightly linked to past climatic changes. (Love Dalén via SWNS) By Talker kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$EF5J D6?:@C 2FE9@C {@G6 s2=é?[ C6D62C49 8C@FA =6256C 2E E96 r6?EC6 7@C !2=26@86?6E:4D :? $E@4<9@=>[ D2:5i Q~FC C6DF=ED DF886DE E92E A2DE 4=:>2E6 492?86 5:5 >@C6 E92? C6D92A6 923:E2ED]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQxE 24E:G6=J 3C@F89E DA64:6D E@86E96C[ 4C62E:?8 3C:67 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C :?E6C3C665:?8 E92E H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 6I:DE65 @E96CH:D6]Qk^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 D2JD 86?6E:4 6G:56?46 A@:?ED E@ 2 C646?E=J 6IE:?4E A@AF=2E:@? @7 >@56C? =:@?D :? $@FE9H6DE pD:2 2D E96 >@DE =:<6=J D@FC46 @7 E96 86?6 7=@H]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms2=é? 25565i Q%96D6 =:@?D 2AA62C E@ 92G6 D6CG65 2D 2 4@?E24E K@?6 36EH66? E96 EH@ =:?6286D 5FC:?8 4@=56C A6C:@5D]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ 42G6 =:@? A@AF=2E:@?D E96>D6=G6D H6C6 9:89=J 5J?2>:4]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%96 52E2 C6G62= 6IE6?D:G6 86?6E:4 4@??64E:G:EJ 36EH66? 42G6 =:@? A@AF=2E:@?D 24C@DD tFC2D:2[ H:E9 2?46DECJ DAC625:?8 C2A:5=J @G6C =2C86 5:DE2?46D[ H:E9:? C6=2E:G6=J D9@CE E:>6 DA2?D]Qk^Am Originally published on talker.news, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Stephen Beech Recommended for you Nominate Your Favorites! Most Popular Tallassee police investigating Saturday night shooting death Love’s coming to Alexander City Wetumpka traffic stop leads to fentanyl seizure Russell buildings to be demolished, making room for development COMING TOGETHER Churches host event to encourage community conversations Local Weather Currently in Alexander City 74° 74° / 54° 11 AM 76° 12 PM 78° 1 PM 79° 2 PM 81° 3 PM 82°
