Makes sense for the Americas too. Population could not spread far and wide until the giant American lion died off at the end of the last ice age (although based on numerous sightings from the 1790s to the present, there may be relict populations of the lions still around).
(although based on numerous sightings from the 1790s to the present, there may be relict populations of the lions still around)
are you talking about mountain lions or the lions extincted by the events of the younger dryas.
(I’ve never read reports of any lions but mountain lions in the USA. as to other big cats, I’ve seen pictures of jaguars north of the border.)