A new genus and species of Felidae (Mammalia) from Rusinga Island, Kenya, with notes on early Felidae of Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/egeol.40480.185Keywords:
Africa, Kenya, Rusinga, lower Miocene, FelidaeAbstract
The lower Miocene (Burdigalian) deposits of the Hiwegi Fm., Rusinga Island, Kenya, have yielded a single specimen of a small felid. This specimen, here identified as the holotype of a new genus and species, is of the size of the smallest living Felidae. It shows some features of primitive, “Pseudaelurusgrade” cats, but also features of both morphology and metrics that are intermediate between this grade and modern Felidae, suggesting a transitional taxon. This is in contrast with Diamantofelis and Namafelis from Namibia, which, though aberrant, are more clearly of “Pseudaelurus-grade”. The Rusinga specimen is the most derived felid specimen of the lower Miocene.
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