Archaeologists have found the remains of the smallest leopard cat – Science and IT
The discovery was made at the prehistoric site of Hualundong in Anhui Province.
In China, archaeologists have unearthed the fossilized remains of the smallest known extinct leopard cat. This tiny predator, named Prionailurus kurteni, was no bigger than the palm of your hand.
This was reported by en.people.cn.
“The size of the ancient kitten can be compared with the size of the smallest existing feline species – the rusty-spotted cat and the black-footed cat, which are much smaller than the modern leopard cat,” the report says.
The cat's jawbone and teeth confirm the evolutionary relationship between leopard cats, domestic cats and marals. Although molecular biology has long pointed to this connection, physical evidence has been lacking due to the difficulty of preserving remains in the forest environment where leopard cats used to live.
Hualundong parking lot, opened in 1988,…
