Asiatic Lion - Barbary Lion

Barbary Lion

In 1968, a study of the skulls of the extinct Barbary (North African), extinct Cape, Asiatic, and African lions showed the same skull characteristics – the very narrow bar – that existed in the Barbary and Asiatic lion skulls. This shows there may have been a close relationship between the lions from northernmost Africa and Asia. The South European Lion that became extinct around AD 80-100 could have represented the connecting link between the North African and Asiatic lions. Barbary lions are believed to have possessed the same belly fold (hidden under their manes) as those seen in the Asian lions today.