Research overview: the origin of the Panthera lineage of big cats

This overview surveys evidence on where and when the Panthera lineage, the genus that includes lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, and snow leopards, first arose. Molecular phylogenies place the divergence of Panthera within the broader felid radiation, while the fossil record, including early pantherines from Asia, helps anchor the timing and geography. The survey reviews competing views on whether the genus originated in Asia or Africa, how the discovery of very old pantherine fossils has pushed the lineage's roots deeper in time, and how the living species are related to one another and to extinct forms such as the cave and American lions. It discusses how integrating genetics with key fossils has reshaped understanding of when the great roaring cats emerged and began their spread across the continents.