Leptofelis

Leptofelis Temporal range: Late Vallesian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Skull from Batallones 1 fossil site
Scientific classification
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 a genus of feline carnivoran 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.^[1]

Description

Leptofelis had long and slender legs. Its body mass is estimated to be between 7.21–9.02 kg (15.9–19.9 lb). The metacarpals are more robust than most cursorial cats, while being more gracile than more arboreal cats. The vertebrae share many characteristics with modern cat species such as the lynx, caracal, and serval.^[1]

Discovery and naming

The type specimen of Leptofelis consists of incomplete skeletal remains: a lower jaw, left forelimb (humerus, radius, ulna, and metacarpals, four lumbar vertebrae, a left hindlimb (femur, tibia, talus, and calcaneus), and sacrum.^[1]

Classification

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 evolved convergently several times.^[1]

Paleobiology

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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[1]

References