Reconstruction of the mandible, skull, masticatory muscles, and life appearance of Magerifelis peignei. Credit: Jesús Gamarra, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales.
In the dynamic metropolitan landscape of Madrid, of all locations, paleontologists from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC have uncovered an amazing piece of nature. A partial jaw, found in this unexpected place, has led to the identification of a brand-new genus and species of medium-sized feline, named Magerifelis peignei. This discovery bridges a gap in the evolutionary story of felines, dating back to the Middle Miocene epoch, approximately 15.5 million years ago.
A new cat ancestor
With an estimated body mass of 7.61 kg (16.7 pounds), Magerifelis peignei falls within the size variety of some contemporary felines, such as the bobcat, serval, and caracal. The toughness of its jaw and dentition set it apart, hinting at a more powerful bite force and the capability to hunt fairly bigger victim compared to its modern counterparts. Like Iberian lynxes, Magerifelis peignei probably hunted victim by first biting the throat.
The discovery of Magerifelis peignei in Madrids city heart supplies a distinct window into the evolutionary journey of felines, exposing a previously unknown link in their lineage. As scientists continue to study this fascinating species (and others), the story of feline development ends up being ever more fascinating and detailed.
Iberian Lynx. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
“We recuperated an almost complete jaw that preserved nearly all of its teeth in extraordinary condition,” Dr. Siliceo stated.
The findings appeared in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
“Nevertheless, if the mandibles of these types are revealed at the same mandibular length for better comparison, the dentition of the new types is plainly smaller sized than those of these latter types, and therefore, the specimen has a more robust appearance, with a fairly higher mandibular corpus, extremely comparable to that of the much bigger Lynx lynx,” Siliceo said.
In the dynamic urban landscape of Madrid, of all places, paleontologists from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC have unearthed an impressive piece of natural history. A partial jaw, found in this unforeseen place, has actually led to the identification of a brand-new genus and types of medium-sized feline, called Magerifelis peignei. With an estimated body mass of 7.61 kg (16.7 pounds), Magerifelis peignei falls within the size range of some contemporary felines, such as the bobcat, serval, and caracal. Like Iberian lynxes, Magerifelis peignei probably hunted victim by first biting the throat.
One particular feature stood out– a tiny lower 2nd molar, a tooth absent in all living and fossil felids, except for Proailurus (25-30 million years ago). This distinct oral structure suggests an unique evolutionary course for Magerifelis peignei.
Magerifelis peignei belonged to the subfamily Felinae, a group known for little cats efficient in purring due to a special bony structure in their throat. This ancient feline, a relative of modern-day species such as the African golden cat and the Iberian lynx, supplies insight into the advancement of these beloved creatures.
The extremely well-preserved fossil, discovered in 2007 at the Príncipe Pío-2 site, uses an unusual glance into the past. The total hemimandible (one half of the mandible, or lower jawbone) and almost all of its teeth were undamaged, missing only the incisors. This level of preservation is very rare in paleontology, permitting detailed paleoecological reasonings about this new species.
Dr. Gema Siliceo, a crucial member of the discovery team, expressed wonder at the condition of the jaw and teeth.