Biology:Prionailurus kurteni

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Short description: Extinct species of mammal

Prionailurus kurteni
Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Prionailurus
Species:
P. kurteni
Binomial name
Prionailurus kurteni
Jiangzuo et. al., 2024

Prionailurus kurteni is an extinct species of Prionailurus that inhabited China during the Middle Pleistocene.[1]

History and naming

Prionailurus kurteni was described based on a single specimen, IVPP V33075, a partial mandible with two teeth. The specimen was found in the late Middle Pleistocene locality Hualongdong Cave No. I Homo Site in Anhui Province, China.[1]

The specific name kurteni honors paleontologist Björn Kurtén.[1]

Description

The holotype of P. kurteni is a partial mandible with the fourth premolar and first molar intact. It is very small.[1]

It is described as a very small cat, comparable in size to South Asia rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) and African black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), whose head-and-body length reach at maximum 48cm (19in) and 52cm (20.5in), respectively..[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q131304188 entry