Goldcoat Lion

A couple of million years ago, the super-volcano of Mu erupted, devastating the southern regions of the Vernean Cavern. While most of Lemuria was spared due to wind currents and the southern mountain range keeping the choking ash at bay, the south-eastern corner of Lemuria was not so fortunate. The already drying region was wiped clean of most vegetation and the ecosystem collapsed with it, sharing the same fate as Juland. With most of the large ancient megafauna gone and the mountain range restricting colonization from the rest of the continent, more familiar animals were able to population the recovering ecosystem and fill vacant niches. Chief among these new migrants was the ancestor of modern African lions. Unlike most big cats in the Hollow Earth, Goldcoat lions live like their surface relatives, forming large prides and the males even support their iconic manes, unlike lions elsewhere which are mostly solitary and lack manes. 

Goldcoat lions are big game hunters, but like big cats elsewhere in the Hollow Earth, they face heavy competition from recent more recent arrivals of non-avian dinosaurs from beyond the mountains. Luckily robust tyrants have yet to recolonize, but dromaeosaurs and cursorial tyrants are an ever-present problem. Goldcoat lions have responded to these problems by doubling down on their social nature. Goldcoat males are far more vigilant fathers, actively taking care of their cubs, and are consistently involved in hunts. Prides generally consist of more males than surface prides, usually all brothers of the king as well as his sons. Cooperation between the males is crucial to the prides survival, their larger bulk allows the pride to tackle larger prey, even small to mid-sized dinosaurs are on the menu if the pride is large enough, and even more importantly, more males mean that the pride can effectively defend their kills from thieving dinosaurs. While Goldcoat males are more tolerant and cooperative than other lions, this is not to say conflict does not arise. If kings show any sign of weakness, he may be dethroned by one of the other males in his court or worse, an outsider. If a resident male takes over, the cubs of the old king are safe, but if an outsider takes the crown, they will be slaughtered.