Leptofelis: Difference between revisions
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{{Automatic taxobox |
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| name = ''Leptofelis'' |
| name = ''Leptofelis'' |
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| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|9|9|Late [[Vallesian]]}} |
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|9|9|Late [[Vallesian]]}} |
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| image=Leptofelis vallesiensis skull - Batallones 1 fossil site, Torrejón de Velasco, Madrid, Spain.jpg |
| image = Leptofelis vallesiensis skull - Batallones 1 fossil site, Torrejón de Velasco, Madrid, Spain.jpg |
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| image_caption=Skull from Batallones |
| image_caption = Skull from Batallones-1 fossil site |
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| taxon = Leptofelis |
| taxon = Leptofelis |
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| authority = Salesa ''et al.'', 2017 |
| authority = Salesa ''et al.'', 2017 |
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| type_species = |
| type_species = ''Styriofelis vallesiensis'' |
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| type_species_authority = Salesa ''et al.'', 2012 |
| type_species_authority = Salesa ''et al.'', 2012 |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Leptofelis''''' (meaning "swift cat") is an extinct genus of ''[[Pseudaelurus]]''-grade [[Felidae|felid]] found in Spain. |
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'''''Leptofelis''''' (meaning "swift cat") is a genus of [[felinae|feline]] [[carnivora]]n from the [[Miocene]] ([[Vallesian]]) deposits of [[Cerro de los Batallones]], in [[Spain]]. A small species known from a jaw, forelimb, hindlimb, and lumbar vertebrae, ''Leptofelis'' has characteristics intermediate between less specialized species and modern felines.<ref name="auto">{{cite journal|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10914-017-9414-9|title=Functional and Systematic Implications of the Postcranial Anatomy of a Late Miocene Feline (Carnivora, Felidae) from Batallones-1 (Madrid, Spain)|first1=M.J.|last1=Salesa|first2=G.|last2=Siliceo|first3=M.|last3=Antón|first4=S.|last4=Peigné|first5=J.|last5=Morales|date=2017|journal=Journal of Mammalian Evolution|doi=10.1007/s10914-017-9414-9|pages=1–31}}</ref> |
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==Etymology== |
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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.<ref name=Salesa2012/> |
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{{expand section|date=November 2017}} |
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''Leptofelis'' had long and slender legs. 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 locomotion|arboreal]] cats. The vertebrae share many characteristics with modern cat species such as the [[lynx]], [[caracal]], and [[serval]].<ref name="auto"/> |
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==Taxonomy and phylogeny== |
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''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.<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/profile/Manuel_Salesa/publication/254249560_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/links/00b7d5226f8ff146c5000000/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.pdf|issn=1477-2019|doi=10.1080/14772019.2011.566584}}</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|doi=10.1007/s10914-017-9414-9}}</ref> |
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{{expand section|date=November 2017}} |
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The [[type (biology)|type specimen]] of ''Leptofelis'' consists of incomplete skeletal remains: a lower jaw, left forelimb ([[humerus]], [[radius (bone)|radius]], [[ulna]], and metacarpals, four [[lumbar vertebrae]], a left hindlimb ([[femur]], [[tibia]], [[talus bone|talus]], and [[calcaneus]]), and [[sacrum]].<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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{{expand section|date=November 2017}} |
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The species was once considered to belong to the genus ''[[Styriofelis]]'', but was shown to belong to a distinct genus in 2017. Its adaptations towards a cursorial lifestyle show that the lifestyle of ground-living cat species [[convergent evolution|evolved convergently]] several times.<ref name="auto"/> |
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==Paleobiology== |
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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="auto"/> |
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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=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= |
''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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Revision as of 22:15, 13 December 2018
| Leptofelis Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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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 | |
| Styriofelis vallesiensis Salesa et al., 2012
| |
Leptofelis (meaning "swift cat") is an extinct genus of Pseudaelurus-grade felid found in Spain.
Etymology
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
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
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
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
- ^ 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)" (PDF). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 10 (1): 87–102. doi:10.1080/14772019.2011.566584. ISSN 1477-2019.
- ^ 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: 1–31. doi:10.1007/s10914-017-9414-9.
- ^ Antón, M. (2013). Sabertooth. Bloomington, Indiana: University of Indiana Press. p. 52. ISBN 9780253010421.