Ancient DNA reveals past existence of E urasian lynx in S pain

The known distribution of the I berian lynx L ynx pardinus within the I berian P eninsula since the M iddle P leistocene and the lack of reliable records of E urasian lynx L ynx lynx in this region have led to the assumption that the I berian lynx was the sole inhabitant of I beria. In this study, we identified ancient mitochondrial DNA (a total of 337 base pairs from the control region and cytochrome b ) from eight northern I berian lynx remains as E urasian lynx. These results confirm the presence of E urasian lynx in northern I beria from the P leistocene/ H olocene boundary until just a few centuries ago. The paleontological record and our data indicate a population replacement of the I berian lynx by the E urasian lynx during the P leistocene/ H olocene transition in the C antabrian cornice of S pain. Phylogeographic patterns of L ate P leistocene and H olocene E urasian lynx from I beria, F rance, I taly and D enmark show that this felid had a more complex phylogeographic history in the past than modern day populations suggest.