Himalayan fossils of the oldest known pantherine establish ancient origin of big cats

IVPP V18788.1–3 anchor a dated Zanda Basin pantherine sample and a combined morphology–molecule analysis; genus assignment, affinity and biogeographic history remain revisable hypotheses rather than direct observations.

The original study assigned IVPP V18788.1–3 to Panthera blytheae in a combined analysis; generic assignment and snow-leopard affinity are revisable rather than ancestral facts.

The profiled sample is limited to the Zanda Basin and does not by itself establish an Asian origin for all pantherines.

Felid dentition supports carnivory, but the partial cranial sample does not directly preserve locomotion, prey choice or habitual environment.

IVPP V18788.1 is an adult partial cranium, with IVPP V18788.2–3 providing associated jaw and premaxillary material used in the analysis.

The 5.95–4.10 Ma envelope follows the original locality magnetostratigraphy and is not a universal pantherine FAD, species LAD or unchanged age model.