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{{Short description|Extinct genus of carnivores}} |
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{{Automatic taxobox |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| image = Leptofelis vallesiensis skull - Batallones 1 fossil site, Torrejón de Velasco, Madrid, Spain.jpg |
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia |
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| image_caption = Skull from Batallones-1 fossil site |
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| ordo = [[Carnivora]] |
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| taxon = Leptofelis |
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| familia = [[Felidae]] |
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| authority = Salesa ''et al.'', 2017 |
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| subfamilia = |
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| type_species = ''Leptofelis vallesiensis'' |
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| tribus = |
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| type_species_authority = (Salesa ''et al.'', 2012) |
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| genus = †'''''Leptofelis''''' |
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| synonyms = |
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| genus_authority = Manuel Salesa, Gema Siliceo, Mauricio Anton, Stephane Peighne, Jorge Morales, |
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*''Styriofelis vallesiensis'' |
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] |
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| subdivision = |
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*†''L. vallesiensis'' <small>(Salesa, Siliceo, Anton, Peighne, Morales, 2017) ([[Type species|type]])</small> |
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'''''Leptofelis''''' is an extinct genus of ''[[Pseudaelurus]]''-grade [[Felidae|felid]] found in Spain. |
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'''''Leptofelis''''' (meaning "swift cat") is a genus of feline cat from the [[Miocene]] ([[Vallesian]]) deposits of [[Cerro de los Batallones]], in [[Spain]]. A small species known from a jaw, front limb and associate hindlimb, hip, and lumbar vertebrae, ''Leptofelis'' has characteristics intermediate between more primitive species and more advanced modern felines.<ref name="wordpress.com">{{cite web|url=https://chasingsabretooths.wordpress.com/2017/11/16/swift-pussy-cat-batallones-little-feline-wonder-revealed/|title=Swift pussy cat: Batallones’ little feline wonder revealed|date=16 November 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite journal|url=https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s10914-017-9414-9?author_access_token=zxX1YQLtPDsUQLjM_vOHZPe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY570xrCZtD393PYiU7qzLghGr3wxaVMR6tdhcLxMktvRk13fFzC-XAjplRhwy9ddpFiXTVFwnQTF4spMgY2yGUvqOu-Otn4xb6TeAuNocMWYw==|title=Functional and Systematic Implications of the Postcranial Anatomy of a Late Miocene Feline (Carnivora, Felidae) from Batallones-1 (Madrid, Spain)|first1=Manuel J.|last1=Salesa|first2=Gema|last2=Siliceo|first3=Mauricio|last3=Antón|first4=Stéphane|last4=Peigné|first5=Jorge|last5=Morales|publisher=|journal=Journal of Mammalian Evolution|doi=10.1007/s10914-017-9414-9}}</ref> |
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==Etymology== |
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The generic name ''Leptofelis'' comes from the Latin words for swift, ''lepto'',{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} and cat, ''felis'', essentially translating to "swift cat". The specific name ''vallesiensis'' was given because the species was found in localities of Vallesian age.<ref name=Salesa2012/> |
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''Leptofelis'' is known from incomplete skeletal remains, consisting of a lower jaw mandible, left front limb (radius, ulna and humerus), metacarpals for the left front paw, four lumbar vertebrae, left hind limb (femur and tibia),, os coxae, talus, calcaneus, and sacrum. The genus was once considered to belong to the genus ''[[Styriofelis]]'', but skeletal morphology and cladistic analysis have revealed the former to be distinct. Its legs are long and slender, indicating that it was predominantly cursorial, though examination of its bones indicate it also was a better climber than most modern felids of similar size. Its body mass is estimated to be between {{convert|7.21-9.02|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. The metacarpals are more robust than most cursorial cats, while being more gracile than more arboreal cats. The vertebrae share many characteristics with such modern cat species as the [[lynx]], [[caracal]], [[serval]] and other cats. Furthermore, its adaptations towards a cursorial lifestyle show that the lifestyle of ground-living cat species evolved several times over in convergent evolution.<ref name="wordpress.com"/><ref name="auto"/> |
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==Taxonomy and phylogeny== |
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==Paleobiology== |
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''Leptofelis vallesiensis'' was first described as ''Styriofelis vallesiensis'' in 2012, based on several specimens from [[Cerro de los Batallones|Batallones-1]] and Batallones-3, a pair of Vallesian-age localities in Spain. The specimens included a partial but well-preserved skeleton and several skulls.<ref name="Salesa2012">{{cite journal|author1=Salesa, Manuel J.|author2=Antón, Mauricio|author3=Morales, Jorge|author4=Peigné, Stéphane|title=Systematics and phylogeny of the small felines (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Late Miocene of Europe: a new species of Felinae from the Vallesian of Batallones (MN 10, Madrid, Spain)|journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology|volume=10|issue=1|pages=87–102|year=2012|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254249560|issn=1477-2019|doi=10.1080/14772019.2011.566584|bibcode=2012JSPal..10...87S |s2cid=84912711}}</ref> However, a review of the species in 2017 concluded that it was sufficiently different from other ''Styriofelis'' species as to warrant a new genus, and was therefore reassigned as ''Leptofelis vallesiensis''.<ref name=Salesa2017>{{cite journal|author1=Salesa, Manuel J.|author2=Siliceo, Gema|author3=Antón, Mauricio|author4=Peigné, Stéphane|author5=Morales, Jorge|title=Functional and Systematic Implications of the Postcranial Anatomy of a Late Miocene Feline (Carnivora, Felidae) from Batallones-1 (Madrid, Spain)|journal=Journal of Mammalian Evolution|pages=1–31|year=2017|volume=26|doi=10.1007/s10914-017-9414-9|s2cid=19719645|hdl=10261/225344|hdl-access=free}}</ref> |
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''Leptofelis'' was likely similar in behavior to the modern serval or caracal. Both modern cats are hunters of small prey, with a preference for hunting on the ground. Given the highly variable environment in which it lived, ''Leptofelis'' may also have climbed both to escape larger predators and pursue small prey up into trees. Such prey items that it would have hunted would have included rodents and small birds, which it would have hunted by ambush.<ref name="wordpress.com"/><ref name="auto"/> |
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==Description== |
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''Leptofelis vallesiensis'' is theorized to have had long and slender legs, and to weigh between {{convert|7.21-9.02|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, similar in size to a caracal or serval. It had certain adaptations intermediate between earlier felids, which were mostly arboreal or semi-arboreal, and later felids that lived mainly on the ground. Because of this, ''L. vallesiensis'' is theorized to have been mainly ground-living, though still climbing trees to escape.<ref name=Salesa2017/> |
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==Paleoecology== |
==Paleoecology== |
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''Leptofelis'' seemed to prefer open woodland habitat, as evidenced by finds at [[Cerro de los Batallones]]. As a predator at Batallones, it would have hunted small rodents, birds and other easily subdued animals. This cat was contemporaneous with such herbivores as horses like ''[[Hipparion]]'', the hornless rhinoceros ''[[Aceratherium]]'', the [[gomphotheriidae|gomphotherid]] mastodon ''[[Tetralophodon]]'', the suid ''[[Microstonyx]]'', silvatherid giraffes and boselaphine antelope. ''Leptofelis'' was also contemporary with the [[Amphicyonid]] ''[[Magericyon]]'', machairodonts ''[[Machairodus]]'' ''[[Promegantereon]]'' and ''[[Paramachairodus]]'', the bear ''[[Indarctos]]'', and the small [[Hyaenidae|hyenid]] ''[[Protictitherium]]''. All these carnivores were competition and with smaller animals like ''Protictitherium'', it would have competed directly against it. The larger carnivores were avoided, either by escaping up trees or through evasion and stealth.<ref>{{cite book|last=Antón|first= |
''Leptofelis'' seemed to prefer open woodland habitat, as evidenced by finds at [[Cerro de los Batallones]]. As a predator at Batallones, it would have hunted small rodents, birds and other easily subdued animals. This cat was contemporaneous with such herbivores as horses like ''[[Hipparion]]'', the hornless rhinoceros ''[[Aceratherium]]'', the [[gomphotheriidae|gomphotherid]] mastodon ''[[Tetralophodon]]'', the suid ''[[Microstonyx]]'', silvatherid giraffes and boselaphine antelope. ''Leptofelis'' was also contemporary with the [[Amphicyonid]] ''[[Magericyon]]'', machairodonts ''[[Machairodus]]'', ''[[Promegantereon]]'', and ''[[Paramachairodus]]'', the bear ''[[Indarctos]]'', and the small [[Hyaenidae|hyenid]] ''[[Protictitherium]]''. All these carnivores were competition and with smaller animals like ''Protictitherium'', it would have competed directly against it. The larger carnivores were avoided, either by escaping up trees or through evasion and stealth.<ref>{{cite book|last=Antón|first=M.|title=Sabertooth|date=2013|publisher=University of Indiana Press|location=Bloomington, Indiana|isbn=9780253010421|page=52}}</ref> The environment of Batallones was a highly variable habitat, with scattered vegetation throughout open areas of grassland. These areas would provide both the necessary protection and ambush sites necessary to hunt successfully.<ref name=Salesa2017/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{Feliformia|Fel.|state=collapsed}} |
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{{Felidae}} |
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q48965927}} |
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{{taxonbar}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Prehistoric felids]] |
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[[Category:Felines]] |
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[[Category:Miocene carnivorans]] |
[[Category:Miocene carnivorans]] |
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[[Category:Miocene genus extinctions]] |
[[Category:Miocene genus extinctions]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Monotypic prehistoric carnivoran genera]] |
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[[Category:Miocene mammals of Europe]] |
[[Category:Miocene mammals of Europe]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 2017]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:33, 5 November 2024
| Leptofelis Temporal range:
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| Skull from Batallones-1 fossil site | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Felinae |
| Genus: | †Leptofelis Salesa et al., 2017 |
| Type species | |
| Leptofelis vallesiensis (Salesa et al., 2012)
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| Synonyms | |
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Leptofelis is an extinct genus of Pseudaelurus-grade felid found in Spain.
Etymology
[edit]The generic name Leptofelis comes from the Latin words for swift, lepto,[citation needed] and cat, felis, essentially translating to "swift cat". The specific name vallesiensis was given because the species was found in localities of Vallesian age.[1]
Taxonomy and phylogeny
[edit]Leptofelis vallesiensis was first described as Styriofelis vallesiensis in 2012, based on several specimens from Batallones-1 and Batallones-3, a pair of Vallesian-age localities in Spain. The specimens included a partial but well-preserved skeleton and several skulls.[1] However, a review of the species in 2017 concluded that it was sufficiently different from other Styriofelis species as to warrant a new genus, and was therefore reassigned as Leptofelis vallesiensis.[2]
Description
[edit]Leptofelis vallesiensis is theorized to have had long and slender legs, and to weigh between 7.21–9.02 kg (15.9–19.9 lb), similar in size to a caracal or serval. It had certain adaptations intermediate between earlier felids, which were mostly arboreal or semi-arboreal, and later felids that lived mainly on the ground. Because of this, L. vallesiensis is theorized to have been mainly ground-living, though still climbing trees to escape.[2]
Paleoecology
[edit]Leptofelis seemed to prefer open woodland habitat, as evidenced by finds at Cerro de los Batallones. As a predator at Batallones, it would have hunted small rodents, birds and other easily subdued animals. This cat was contemporaneous with such herbivores as horses like Hipparion, the hornless rhinoceros Aceratherium, the gomphotherid mastodon Tetralophodon, the suid Microstonyx, silvatherid giraffes and boselaphine antelope. Leptofelis was also contemporary with the Amphicyonid Magericyon, machairodonts Machairodus, Promegantereon, and Paramachairodus, the bear Indarctos, and the small hyenid Protictitherium. All these carnivores were competition and with smaller animals like Protictitherium, it would have competed directly against it. The larger carnivores were avoided, either by escaping up trees or through evasion and stealth.[3] The environment of Batallones was a highly variable habitat, with scattered vegetation throughout open areas of grassland. These areas would provide both the necessary protection and ambush sites necessary to hunt successfully.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Salesa, Manuel J.; Antón, Mauricio; Morales, Jorge; Peigné, Stéphane (2012). "Systematics and phylogeny of the small felines (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Late Miocene of Europe: a new species of Felinae from the Vallesian of Batallones (MN 10, Madrid, Spain)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 10 (1): 87–102. Bibcode:2012JSPal..10...87S. doi:10.1080/14772019.2011.566584. ISSN 1477-2019. S2CID 84912711.
- ^ a b c Salesa, Manuel J.; Siliceo, Gema; Antón, Mauricio; Peigné, Stéphane; Morales, Jorge (2017). "Functional and Systematic Implications of the Postcranial Anatomy of a Late Miocene Feline (Carnivora, Felidae) from Batallones-1 (Madrid, Spain)". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 26: 1–31. doi:10.1007/s10914-017-9414-9. hdl:10261/225344. S2CID 19719645.
- ^ Antón, M. (2013). Sabertooth. Bloomington, Indiana: University of Indiana Press. p. 52. ISBN 9780253010421.