Researchers in Eastern China have identified the smallest known cat fossil, belonging to an extinct species of leopard cat, according to a report by Xinhua. This diminutive feline was small enough to fit comfortably in a human hand.
The fossil, named Prionailurus kurteni, was discovered in a cave at the Hualundun site in Anhui province by scientists from the Institute of Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Studies confirm that the leopard cat, domestic cat, and Pallas's cat share a common ancestor. Previously, Chinese researchers uncovered dozens of human fossils at the same archaeological site, dating back 300,000 years, marking them as the earliest fossils found in East Asia.
“The food remains of ancient humans at Hualundun may have attracted rats, as well as these small leopard cats,” the study's authors noted. “It remains unclear whether these cats were part of the diet of the cave's inhabitants, as we find no evidence of human intervention on the fossil's jawbone,” they added.
The discovery of animal fossils at Hualundun may shed light on the dietary habits and potential threats faced by ancient humans. Researchers from the Swedish Museum of Natural History also participated in the study. The Hualundun site, discovered in late 1988, has yielded remarkable finds during ongoing excavations since 2013, including approximately 20 separate ancient human fossils, over 400 stone artifacts, and more than 80 vertebrate fossils.