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 an environment is suggestive. "Anomalocaris" was an aquatic apex predator, in the Cambrian. Its mouthparts are clearly predatory, and there were no larger animals in the seas at that time. Carnivorous theropod dinosaurs including "Allosaurus" and "Tyrannosaurus" have been described as apex predators, based on their size and dietary needs. A Permian shark, "Triodus sessilis", was discovered containing two amphibians ("Archegosaurus decheni" and "Cheliderpeton latirostre"), one of which had consumed a fish, "Acanthodes bronni", showing that the shark had lived at a trophic level of at least 4. Among more recent fossils, the sabre-tooth cats, like "Smilodon", are considered to