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.
Species: M. cantonensis
(type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Unknown due to lack of remains.
Known locations: China, Guangdong Province -
Youganwo Formation.
Time period: Late Eocene.
Fossil representation: Partial skull.
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.