Asiatic lion known as "Indian lion" and "Persian lion". Following Meyer's first description of an Asiatic lion skin from Persia, other naturalists and zoologists also described lion specimens from other parts of Asia that used to be considered synonyms of "P. l. persica": In 2017, the Asiatic lion was subsumed to "P. l. leo" due to close morphological and molecular genetic similarities with Barbary lion specimens. Fossil remains of "Panthera spelaea" excavated in the Cromer Stage indicate that it represented a genetically isolated and highly distinct lineage. Fossil lion remains were found in Pleistocene deposits in West Bengal. A fossil carnassial excavated
Apex predator removed, lake trout, the suppressed native apex predator, diversified its prey selection and increased its trophic level. As a terrestrial example, the badger, an apex predator, predates on and also competes with the hedgehog, a mesopredator, for food such as insects, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and ground-nesting bird's eggs. Removal of badgers (in a trial investigating bovine tuberculosis) caused hedgehog densities to more than double. Predators that exert a top-down control on organisms in their community are often considered keystone species. The presence of any top predator (bear, big cat, wolf, dog, or especially human) can greatly alter the behavior