Maofelis

Mow-fel-is.
By Nisha Yadav
Published on

Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

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Yadav, N. (2016, September 7). Maofelis. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/maofelis/

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Name

Maofelis ‭(‬Maoming cat‭)‬.

Phonetic

Mow-fel-is.

Named By

A.‭ ‬Averianov,‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Obraztsova,‭ ‬I.‭ ‬Danilov,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Skutschas‭ & ‬J.‭ ‬Jin‭ ‬-‭ ‬2016.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Carnivora,‭ ‬Feliformia,‭ ‬Nimravidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

M.‭ ‬cantonensis‭

Size

Unknown due to lack of remains.

Known locations

China,‭ ‬Guangdong Province‭ ‬-‭ ‬Youganwo Formation.

Time Period

Late Eocene.

Fossil representation

Partial skull.

In Depth

       Maofelis is a genus of nimravid that lived in China during the late Eocene.‭ ‬Nimravids are also known as‭ ‘‬false-sabre-toothed cats‭’ ‬and this is because while they share a resemblance to the machairodonts which are the‭ ‘‬true sabre-toothed cats‭’‬,‭ ‬nimravids are not true cats,‭ ‬and therefore not‭ ‬members of the Felidae,‭ ‬which machairodonts being true cats are.‭ ‬Not‭ ‬only are they a different evolutionary line,‭ ‬the nimravids also appeared much earlier than machairodonts.‭ ‬Known from a single skull,‭ ‬Maofelis is the first nimravid genus discovered in Asia.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬First nimravid skull from Asia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Scientific Reports‭ ‬6:25812:1-8.‭ ‬-‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Averianov,‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Obraztsova,‭ ‬I.‭ ‬Danilov,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Skutschas‭ & ‬J.‭ ‬Jin‭ ‬-‭ ‬2016.

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