Lion

## Evolutionary Timeline of the Lion The lion (*Panthera leo*) has a rich evolutionary history spanning millions of years, evolving from small, forest-dwelling carnivores to the apex predators of African savannas and beyond. Key drivers include climate shifts leading to grassland expansion, competition with other predators, and adaptations for hunting large prey. ### Key Milestones - **Oligocene-Miocene (25-20 million years ago)**: Early felid ancestors like *Proailurus* emerge in Eurasia, small tree-climbing carnivores adapting to forested environments with emerging grasslands. - **Miocene (10-5 million years ago)**: Divergence of the Panthera lineage; species like *Panthera blytheae* appear, showing traits for larger body size amid cooling climates and habitat changes. - **Pliocene-Pleistocene (5-1 million years ago)**: Ancestral lions, such as *Panthera atrox* and early *P. leo*, spread across continents; ice ages and megafauna abundance pressure social hunting behaviors. - **Pleistocene-Holocene (1 million years ago to present)**: Modern lions adapt to open savannas, with subspecies diverging; human expansion and habitat loss pose recent pressures.