Presencia de felinos (Felis, Lynx y Panthera) en el registro arqueológico de la Península Ibérica durante el Pleistoceno Superior

Abstract

This paper aims to introduce the biogeographic distribution of felids (Felis, Lynx and Panthera) in Iberian Peninsula during Upper Pleistocene. These period hold in last glacial phases, changing climatic conditions affected spatial distribution of fauna. Furthermore, Iberian Peninsula is the Southwestern most European territory, this region has different climatic and environmental influence areas, in addition to a complex geography these factors affected species biogeographic distribution. Three felid genus have been identified in Iberian Upper Pleistocene archaeological sites, from small wildcat to middle size lynx, until big leopard and lion. Analysis of this carnivore family allows an overview on diachronic and geographic carnivore adaptation to changing environments, however this research should be considered as a preliminary work, information proceeding from future research could modify current perspective on felids biogeographic distribution, especially in those areas where some species have not been identified.