Research overview: cave lion coat colour from cubs and genetics

This overview surveys efforts to reconstruct the coat colour and appearance of the cave lion using frozen cubs and ancient DNA. The preserved fur of permafrost specimens provides direct evidence of pelage, generally indicating a pale, sandy to greyish-brown coat suited to northern landscapes, while genetic analysis of pigmentation-related genes offers an independent line of inference. The survey reviews what the mummified cubs reveal about fur colour and texture in young animals, how cave art corroborates a largely unmarked, light coat, and the possibility of faint patterning. It discusses the integration of physical, genetic, and artistic evidence in reconstructing the living look of Panthera spelaea, and why coat colour matters for understanding camouflage, climate adaptation, and the visual world of Ice Age predators.