Phylogenetics of <i>Panthera</i>, including <i>Panthera atrox</i>, based on craniodental characters

The phylogenetic position of <i>Panthera atrox</i> within Felidae is still controversial despite many morphological and molecular studies addressing its relationships. This is in part due to the lack of consensus on a tree for <i>Panthera.</i> These inconsistencies suggest the need for further analysis and perhaps even different methodology to better understand pantherine evolution. Morphologic characters from the skull and dentary were analysed within <i>Panthera</i> to elucidate pantherine phylogeny. Extant taxa included <i>Panthera leo</i> (African lion), <i>Panthera tigris</i> (tiger), <i>Panthera onca</i> (jaguar), <i>Panthera pardus</i> (leopard), <i>Uncia uncia</i> (snow leopard) and <i>Neofelis nebulosa</i> (clouded leopard). Four outgroups were used: <i>Crocuta crocuta</i> (spotted hyena), <i>Metailurus</i> spp., <i>Proailurus lemanensis</i> and <i>Pseudaelurus validus</i>. Our study found a clade containing <i>Panthera leo</i>, <i>Panthera tigris</i> and <i>Panthera atrox</i>, suggesting that <i>Panthera atrox</i> is more closely related to the African lion and the tiger than the jaguar, in contrast to what has been recently proposed. Moreover, gross morphological similarities between <i>Panthera atrox</i> and <i>Panthera onca</i> are more likely the result of convergent hunting styles and/or prey selection, rather than phylogenetic affinity.