New Cat Species That Existed 15 Million Years Ago Discovered In Spain

A newly identified cat species, named Magerifelis peignei, existed in what is now Spain around 15.5 million years ago during the Middle Miocene epoch. The small cats, belonging to the Felinae subfamily, were capable of purring due to a bony hyoid, but not roaring, according to a report by BBC.

Lead author Dr. Manuel Salesa and colleagues from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC revealed that Magerifelis peignei is closely related to species such as Pristifelis attica, Felis (including Felis margarita, Felis silvestris, and Felis lybica), Profelis aurata, and Lynx pardinus.

Discovered in 2007 at the Principe Pio-2 fossil site in Madrid City, the remarkably well-preserved specimen, with a nearly complete jaw and all teeth except incisors, offers valuable insights for paleoecological analyses.

The jaw’s unique features, including a tiny lower second molar absent in other living and fossil felids except Proailurus, surprised researchers. Magerifelis peignei is estimated to weigh 7.61 kg, comparable to female individuals of Lynx rufus, Leptailurus serval, and Caracal caracal.

In comparisons with contemporary felines, the jaw of Magerifelis peignei is larger than Felis silvestris but smaller than Caracal caracal, Leptailurus serval, and Lynx pardinus when adjusted for mandibular length. The researchers note a robust appearance similar to the larger Lynx lynx.

Palaeontologists suggest that Magerifelis peignei had a powerful bite force, indicating its capability to capture relatively large prey during hunting. The findings contribute to our understanding of prehistoric feline species and their ecological roles.