New prehistoric cat species discovered in Spain

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Scientists have discovered a brand new prehistoric cat species that lived in modern-day Spain about 15.5 million years in the past, shedding extra mild on the range of felines throughout this era.

The cat species, named Magerifelis peignei, belonged to a subgroup of small cats with predatory conduct just like these of Iberian lynxes, suffocating “medium-sized prey” after bites utilized to the throat, researchers say.

The new species was recognized based mostly on fossil stays unearthed in 2007 on the Príncipe Pío-2 website close to Madrid City in Spain.

Researchers unearthed well-preserved stays of partial jaw bones in addition to all of the enamel – besides the incisors – of the prehistoric cat.

“The specimen is very well preserved, showing the complete hemimandible, as well as all the teeth except the incisors,” scientists wrote in the research, revealed final week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

“The specimen is in such an excellent state of preservation, with almost all the dentition and mandibular structures present, that it constitutes one of the most complete known fossils of early felines up to date,” researchers added.

The medium-sized feline lived in the Middle Miocene period round 15.5 million years in the past and will have had a “strong bite when hunting,” scientists say.

Analysing components of the prehistoric feline’s decrease jaw bones, researchers say M peignei, might have preyed upon “relatively larger prey” than these of modern-day cats.

“These characters suggest that the Príncipe Pío-2 feline could have preyed upon relatively larger prey than those of extant, similarly sized felines,” researchers wrote.

Scientists noticed that among the cat’s particular options in comparison with different felines of its time are a smaller second decrease molar tooth (m2), and a comparatively smaller decrease canine.

Among modern-day felines, researchers say the presence of m2 has been solely noticed in the Eurasian lynx discovered throughout Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe to Siberia, Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau, in addition to the Himalayas.

However, they are saying the presence of this tooth in at the moment current cat species is mostly a “very infrequent feature.”

The newest findings, researchers say, enhance understanding of the range and evolution of cats throughout this era of prehistoric Europe.