. [ 31 ] Researchers compared the microsatellite variations over ten loci of fifteen lions in captivity with those of six different wild lion populations. They determined that these lions are genetically unique and presumably that "their wild source population is similarly unique." These lions—with males that have a distinctly dark and luxuriant mane seam to define a new subspecies perhaps native only to Ethiopia . These lions were part of a collection of the late Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. [ 32 ] Pleistocene Several additional subspecies of lion existed in prehistoric times: P. l. fossilis , known as the Middle Pleistocene European cave lion, flourished about 500,000 years ago; fossils have been recovered from Germany and Italy . It was larger than today's African lions, reaching sizes comparable to the American cave lion and slightly larger than the Upper Pleistocene European cave lion. [ 14 ] [ 33 ] P. l. spelaea , known as the European cave lion, Eurasian cave lion, or Upper Pleistocene European cave lion, occurred in Eurasia 300,000 to 10,000 years ago. [ 14 ] This species is known from Paleolithic cave paintings , ivory carvings, and clay busts, [ 34 ] indicating it had protruding ears, tufted tails, perhaps faint tiger-like stripes, and at least some had a ruff or primitive mane around their necks, possibly indicating males. [ 35 ] P. l. atrox , known as the American lion or American cave lion, was abundant in the Americas from Canada to Peru