''Namafelis'' is an extinct genus of
felids
Felidae () is the family of mammals in the order Carnivora colloquially referred to as cats, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a felid (). The term "cat" refers both to felids in general and specifically to the do ...
that lived in what is now
Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
during the
Early Miocene
The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages.
The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 Ma to 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). It was prece ...
. It contains a single species, ''Namafelis minor.''
Closely related to ''
Diamantofelis
''Diamantofelis'' is an extinct genus of Felidae, felids that lived in what is now Namibia during the Early Miocene. It contains a single species, ''Diamantofelis ferox.''
Discovery and naming
This genus was described in 1998 on the basis of re ...
'',
it is of “''
Pseudaelurus
''Pseudaelurus'' is a prehistoric cat that lived in Europe, Asia and North America in the Miocene between approximately twenty and eight million years ago. It is considered to be a paraphyletic grade ancestral to living felines and pantherines ...
''-grade”,
and therefore a rather basal member of the cat family.
Discovery and naming
Material of this species, including the holotype (AD 99'95), a left
mandible
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth, teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movabl ...
including the cheek teeth, was discovered at the locality of
Arrisdrift in Namibia, which has been dated to 17.5 – 17 Ma, and originally described as ''Diamantofelis minor.''
However, a 2003 study led by the same authors as its original description came to the conclusion that the differences were pronounced enough to erect the genus ''Namafelis''. It also described an almost complete left
radius
In classical geometry, a radius ( : radii) of a circle or sphere is any of the line segments from its center to its perimeter, and in more modern usage, it is also their length. The name comes from the latin ''radius'', meaning ray but also the ...
(AD 115 '98), the so far only known
postcrania Postcrania (postcranium, adjective: postcranial) in zoology and vertebrate paleontology is all or part of the skeleton apart from the skull. Frequently, fossil remains, e.g. of dinosaurs or other extinct tetrapods, consist of partial or isolated sk ...
l remains belonging to this taxon.
Description
''Namafelis'' is comparable in size to a
caracal
The caracal (''Caracal caracal'') () is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted e ...
or a large
wildcat
The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while the ...
, making it significantly smaller than its relative ''
Diamantofelis
''Diamantofelis'' is an extinct genus of Felidae, felids that lived in what is now Namibia during the Early Miocene. It contains a single species, ''Diamantofelis ferox.''
Discovery and naming
This genus was described in 1998 on the basis of re ...
''.
It differs from its larger relative by possessing a p2, more complex structures on the talonid and the reduced height and transverse compression of the jugal teeth, and therefore less sectorial dentition. It has a strong, wide and well-developed masseteric fossa and a strong angular apophysis as well as a large alveolus for p2. The m1 differs from all other known felids and possesses a voluminous paraconid with a backward inclined anterior cusplet. No cingulum can be seen from a lingual view. Its protoconid is higher than its paraconid. As the lingual wall is eroded, it is not clear if it had a reduced metaconid, although there is no incision labially to suggest its presence. The well-developed talonid is occupied by an elliptical cusplet, which is surrounded by a relatively weak cingulum. The cusplet is joined more closely to the posterior cingulum than to the trigonid. Originally considered to be a metaconid, the position and size suggest that it belongs to the talonid. Compared to the p4, the p3 is anteriorly shortened, and it possesses a small incision separating the anterior cusplet from the main cusp, although it does not form an anterior cusp. The transversally compressed main cusp dominates the tooth, while the posterior cusplet is small, equal in size to the lingually well-developed posterior cingulum. The p4 is the most badly preserved tooth, and possesses an elongated anterior part, probably with some kind of anterior cusplet. A sharp, pointed cusp and a moderately sized, well-defined cingulum are located posteriorly.
Its radius is slightly shorter than that of the
house cat
The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members o ...
, although the epiphysis is proportionally larger. The surface of the proximal end is elliptical and possesses a small notch in its lateral border, with a smooth and rather concave surface. Both anterior and posterior surfaces are quite smooth, lacking any detectable surfaces, although the former possesses a slightly concave border, while the posterior one is straight. In the middle of the proximal border of the slightly rugose lateral surface is a small notch. The development of the neck at the upper end of the diaphysis can be seen in lateral and medial views. It is more marked than in the house cat or the
Iberian lynx
The Iberian lynx (''Lynx pardinus'') is a wild cat species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In the 20th century, the Iberian lynx population had declined because of overhun ...
. Furthermore, the rough tubercle located near the posterior margin of the proximal epiphysis is proportionally larger than in either species. The surface of the distal epiphysis is smooth, concave and subelliptical articular, with well-defined margins clearly separated from the rest of the epiphysis which possesses a rough surface. A well-defined crest runs proximally in the anterior surface, curving slightly medially. Below this process, a voluminous, slightly rugose tubercle is projecting distally. The posterior surface of the distal end has an elliptical facet for the ulna displaced towards the lateral margin, with its largest diameter antero-posterior axis of the distal epiphysis, and is very similar to other small felids. There is a rugose central part on the lateral surface of the bone, as well as a bulky, rugose, bony lamina, which is developed near the distal end of the diaphysis. The posterior border of the surface is rugose and projects posteriorly, thereby developing a constriction proximally. As in the house cat and Iberian lynx, the medial surface of the distal epiphysis is less developed than the lateral one. It is separated from the diaphysis by a strong crest, which is however weaker than in these extant species. The radial diaphysis is compressed medio-laterally and possesses a smooth lateral surface, with only a few rugosities. The medial surface is similar and its most distal part is slightly concave.
Paleoecology
The locality of Arrisdrift likely represents a side channel of the Proto-
Orange River
The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch: ''Oranjerivier'') is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of , the Orange River Basin extends from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia to the north ...
, which was only occasionally filled with flowing water, perhaps when the river overflowed during the rainy season. The rest of the time it was a shallow pool. The presence of ''
'Crocodylus' gariepensis'' and
giant tortoise
Giant tortoises are any of several species of various large land tortoises, which include a number of extinct species, as well as two extant species with multiple subspecies formerly common on the islands of the western Indian Ocean and on the ...
s indicate a more tropical climate than found in the area today.
The habitat was probably a bushy, rather wooded savanna, with a
gallery-forest along the river.
Here ''Namafelis'' coexisted with its larger relative ''Diamantofelis'', as well as several more small and medium-sized carnivorans – the
viverrid
Viverridae is a family of small to medium-sized, feliform mammals. The viverrids () comprise 33 species placed in 14 genera. This family was named and first described by John Edward Gray in 1821. Viverrids occur all over Africa, southern Europe, ...
''
Orangictis'', two species of ''
Africanictis
''Africanictis'' is an extinct genus of carnivorous cat-like mammals belonging to the superfamily Aeluroidea, endemic to Africa for approximately , from 23.03 to 11.610 Ma, during the Miocene epoch.
''Africanictis'' is thought to have had an ...
'' and the large
mustelid
The Mustelidae (; from Latin ''mustela'', weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks and wolverines, among others. Mustelids () are a diverse group and form the largest family in ...
''
Namibictis''. All these species likely preyed on the various birds and small mammals of the locality, such as the
macroscelidid ''
Myohyrax'', the
springhare
''Pedetes'' is a genus of rodent, the springhares, in the family Pedetidae. Members of the genus are distributed across southern and Eastern Africa.
Species
A number of species both extant and extinct are classified in the genus ''Pedetes''. ...
''
Megapedetes
''Megapedetes'' is a genus of fossil rodents related to the springhare and other species of the genus ''Pedetes'', with which it forms the family Pedetidae. At least four species are known, which ranged through Africa, southwestern Asia, and sout ...
'', the
lagomorph
The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families: the Leporidae (hares and rabbits) and the Ochotonidae (pikas). The name of the order is derived from the Ancient Greek ''lagos'' (λαγ ...
''
Australagomys''
and the
hoatzin
The hoatzin ( ) or hoactzin ( ), (''Opisthocomus hoazin''), is the only species in the order Opisthocomiformes. It is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves of the Amazon and the Orinoco basins in South Ameri ...
-relative ''
Namibiavis
''Namibiavis'' is an extinct genus of early hoatzin from early Middle Miocene (about 16 mya) deposits of Namibia. It was collected from Arrisdrift, southern Namibia. It was first named by Cécile Mourer-Chauviré in 2003 and the type specie ...
.'' The largest animals of Arrisdrift were the
bear-dogs
Amphicyonidae is an extinct family of terrestrial carnivorans belonging to the suborder Caniformia. They first appeared in North America in the middle Eocene (around 45 mya), spread to Europe by the late Eocene (35 mya), and appear in Asia, an ...
''
Cynelos ginsburgi'' and ''
Amphicyon
''Amphicyon'' ("ambiguous dog") is an extinct genus of large carnivorous bone-crushing mammals, popularly known as bear dogs, of the family Amphicyonidae, subfamily Amphicyoninae, from the Burdigalian Epoch until the late Pliocene, with the creat ...
'', the
hyaenodont
Hyaenodonta ("hyena teeth") is an extinct order of hypercarnivorous placental pan-carnivoran mammals from mirorder Ferae. Hyaenodonts were important mammalian predators that arose during the early Paleocene in Europe and persisted well into the ...
''
Hyainailouros
''Hyainailouros'' ("hyena-cat") is an extinct polyphyletic genus of hyainailourid hyaenodont mammal of the polyphyletic tribe Hyainailourini within paraphyletic subfamily Hyainailourinae, that lived during the early to middle Miocene, of which ...
'', the
climatoceratid ''
Orangemeryx'' and the
proboscidea
The Proboscidea (; , ) are a taxonomic order of afrotherian mammals containing one living family (Elephantidae) and several extinct families. First described by J. Illiger in 1811, it encompasses the elephants and their close relatives. From ...
ns ''
Afromastodon'' and ''
Prodeinotherium
''Prodeinotherium'' is an extinct representative of the family Deinotheriidae that lived in Africa, Europe, and Asia in the early and middle Miocene. ''Prodeinotherium'', meaning "before terrible beast", was first named in 1930, but soon after, ...
.'' Other inhabitants include the small
suids ''
Namachoerus
''Namachoerus'' was an extinct genus of even-toed ungulates that existed during the Miocene of Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11. ...
'' and ''
Nguruwe
''Nguruwe'' was an extinct genus of even-toed ungulates that existed during the Miocene in Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7&nb ...
,'' the
tragulid ''
Dorcatherium
''Dorcatherium'' is an extinct genus of tragulid ruminant which existed in Europe, East Africa and the Siwaliks during the Miocene and Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5 ...
'', the diminutive
aardvark
The aardvark ( ; ''Orycteropus afer'') is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Unlike ...
''
Myorycteropus,''
the small
bovid
The Bovidae comprise the biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that includes cattle, bison, buffalo, antelopes, and caprines. A member of this family is called a bovid. With 143 extant species and 300 known extinct species, the ...
''
Namacerus'' and large
hyrax
Hyraxes (), also called dassies, are small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. Hyraxes are well-furred, rotund animals with short tails. Typically, they measure between long and weigh between . They are superficially simil ...
''
Prohyrax''.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=
Prehistoric felids
Prehistoric carnivoran genera