Paleontologists have made an exciting discovery by excavating half the jaw of Magerifelis peignei, an ancient cat that lived in the Middle Miocene about 15.5 million years ago. A paper describing this discovery was published in the prestigious Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The jaw fragment was found during archaeological excavations at the Principe Pio 2 fossil site in Madrid. The jaw, which was well preserved and contained all types of teeth except the incisors, was a unique find. The researchers noted the absence of a talonid in the first molar and the presence of a primitive second molar, as well as other specific features that do not allow assigning the found individual to the already known feline taxa of the Middle Miocene. such as Styriofelistturnauensis or Miopanthera lorteti.

Magerifelis peignei has a stronger jaw than other felines of the same size. According to scientists, this shows that this cat had a powerful bite and was able to hunt larger prey than its modern relatives. These features make Magerifelis peignei unique among other ancient felids, opening a new page in the evolutionary history of this family.

This discovery not only expands our understanding of Miocene felids, but also highlights the importance of paleontological research to study the evolutionary history and diversity of creatures on our planet. Source