https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1671/039.029.

0314

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631068317301094

And sure enough, their analysis showed that the two lion species are closely
related, but the genetic differences between them are what you'd expect to see
between two different species – indicating that the cave lion was indeed unique
enough to stand on its own" https://www.earthtouchnews.com/discoveries/fossils/dna-
reveals-the-true-identity-of-the-prehistoric-cave-lion/
American lion- not a lion https://www.wired.com/2011/10/american-lion-or-giant-
jaguar-in-search-of-panthera-atrox/
https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2010/05/08/the-american-lion-is-not-a-lion/
https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/extinctamericanlion/taxonomy - Cave lion
lineages are "highly distinct" genetically from the living lion (Burger 2004)
Scientists say the American lion is not a lion after all
https://phys.org/news/2010-05-scientists-american-lion.html