Panthera leo fossilis is a fossil cat of the genus Panthera, which was first excavated near Mauer in Germany, and lived during the Upper Pleistocene.Bone fragments of P. l. fossilis were also excavated near Pakefield in the United Kingdom, which are estimated at 680,000 years old.Bone fragments excavated near Isernia in Italy are estimated at between 600,000 and 620,000 years old.The first Asian record of a fossilis lion was found in the Kuznetsk Basin in western Siberia and dates to the late Early Pleistocene.
Bone fragments of P. l. fossilis indicate that it was larger than the modern lion and was among the largest cats. Skeletal remains of P. l. fossilis populations in Siberia measure larger than those in Central Europe. Compared to a modern lion, P. l. fossilis had a slightly wider skull and nasals, smaller orbits, less inflated bullae, less specialized lower teeth, reduced lower premolars and smaller incisors.
