Editing Proailurus

{{Short description|Extinct genus of carnivores}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Late Oligocene|Early Miocene}}
| image = Proailurus AMNH.jpg
| image_caption = ''Proailurus lemanensis'' skull
| taxon = Proailurus
| authority = Filhol, 1879
| parent_authority = Zittel, 1893
| type_species = †''Proailurus lemanensis''
| type_species_authority = [[Henri Filhol|Filhol]], 1879
| subdivision_ranks = Other Species
| subdivision = * †''Proailurus bourbonnensis'' <small>Peigne, 1999</small>
* †''Proailurus major'' <small>Peigne, 1999</small>
}}

'''''Proailurus''''' is an extinct [[felid]] genus that lived in Europe and Asia approximately 25–30.8 million years ago in the Late [[Oligocene]] and [[Miocene]]. Fossils have been found in [[Mongolia]], [[Germany]], and [[Spain]].

==Etymology==
The generic name ''Proailurus'' comes from the [[Ancient Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|πρό}} {{Transliteration|grc|pro}}, meaning 'before', and {{lang|grc|αἴλουρος}} {{Transliteration|grc|ailuros}}, meaning 'cat'.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} The specific name of ''P. bourbonnensis'' simply means "from the Bourbonnais".<ref name=Peigne1999/>

==Description==
''Proailurus lemanensis'' was a compact and small animal, just a little larger than the domestic cat, weighing about 20&nbsp;lb (9&nbsp;kg). It had a long tail, large eyes and sharp claws and teeth, with similar proportions to the modern [[Viverridae|viverrids]]. Its claws would have been retractable to some extent. Like the viverrids, ''Proailurus'' was at least partially [[arboreal]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=Turner, Alan |author2=Antón, Mauricio |year=1997 |title=The Big Cats and their fossil relatives |location=New York |publisher=Columbia University Press |page=25 |isbn=978-0-231-10228-5}}</ref>

''Proailurus major'' is estimated to have been significantly larger, about 23&nbsp;kg. The p4 tooth is stronger and the m1 is less elongated than in ''P. lemanensis''.<ref name=Peigne1999/>

''Proailurus bourbonnensis'' was a smaller species, estimated to have been 7–10&nbsp;kg. Of the teeth, the p1 is wholly missing, and the m1 was slightly less elongated and the m2 less reduced than in ''P. lemanensis''.<ref name=Peigne1999/>

==Classification==
The genus ''Proailurus'' was first described by [[Henri Filhol]] in 1879 for fossils found in the Saint-Gerand site in France. He named two species, ''Proailurus lemanensis'', based on a mandible, and ''Proailurus julieni''.<ref name=Filhol1879>{{cite journal |author1=Filhol, Henri |title=Étude des mammifères fossiles de Saint-Gérand le Puy (Allier) |journal=Bibliothèque de l'École des Hautes Études, Section des Sciences Naturelles |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=1–252 |year=1879}}</ref> However, ''P. julieni'' was later placed in the genus ''[[Stenogale]]''.<ref name=Tielhard1915>{{cite journal |author1=Tielhard de Chardin, P. |title=Les carnassiers des phosphorites du Quercy |journal=Ann. Paléontol. |volume=9 |issue=3,4 |pages=1–90 |year=1915}}</ref><ref name=Viret1929>{{cite journal |author1=Viret, J. |title=Les faunes des mammifères de l'Oligocene Supérieur de la Limagne Bourbonnaise |journal=Ann. Univ. Lyon |series=Nouv. Sér. |volume=47 |pages=1–328 |year=1929}}</ref>

In 1882, Filhol described a third species, ''Proailurus medius''.<ref name=Filhol1882>{{cite book |last=Filhol |first=Henri |title=Mémoire sur quelques mammifères fossiles des phosphorites du Quercy. |series=Ann. Soc. sci. phys. nat, Toulouse |pages=1–140 |location=Toulouse |publisher=Impr. Vialelle et cie|year=1882 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/163164#page/11/mode/1up  |doi=10.5962/bhl.title.86309 |oclc=20838884}}</ref> In 1888, Schlosser made ''"P." medius'' the type species of the genus ''[[Haplogale]]''.<ref name=Schlosser1888>{{cite journal |last=Schlosser |first=M. |title=Die Affen, Lemuren, Chiropteren, Insectivoren, Marsupialier, Creodonten und Carnivoren des Europaischen Tertiars. |journal=Beitr. Palaontol. Osterreich-Ungamns |volume=7 |issue=Part II  |pages=371–372 |year=1888 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/50738#page/157/mode/1up }}</ref> ''Haplogale media'''s placement was later confirmed by Robert Hunt's 1998 studies of aeluroid skulls.<ref name=Hunt1998>{{cite journal |author1=Hunt, Robert M. |title=Evolution of the Aeluroid Carnivora: Diversity of the Earliest Aeluroids from Eurasia (Quercy, Hsanda-Gol) and the Origin of Felids |journal=American Museum Novitates |year=1998 |number=3252 |hdl=2246/3156}}</ref>

In 1999, Peigné carried out a systematic review of the genus, naming another two species, ''P. bourbonnensis'' and ''P. major'', in the process. ''P. major'' was based on a single specimen, a left mandible from Quercy and Mainz, while ''P. bourbonnensis'' was based on a number of lower mandibles and teeth, as well as a left [[maxilla]].<ref name=Peigne1999>{{Cite journal |last=Peigné |first=Stéphane |title=''Proailurus'', l'un des plus anciens Felidae (Carnivora) d'Eurasie: systématique et évolution |journal=Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire naturelle de Toulouse |volume=135 |pages=125–134 |year=1999 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256846828}}</ref><ref name=Werdelin2010>{{Cite book |author1=Werdelin, Lars |author2=Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki |author3=Johnson, Warren |author4=O'Brien, Stephen J. |chapter=Phylogeny and evolution of cats (Felidae) |year=2010 |title=Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids |publisher=Oxford University Press |editor1= D.W. Macdonald |editor2=A.J. Loveridge |pages=59–82 |chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266755142 |isbn=9780199234455}}</ref>

==Distribution and species==
Fossils of ''Proailurus lemanensis'' were first found in Saint-Gerand and later in Quercy.<ref name=Hunt1998/> Robert Hunt, while measuring fragmentary fossils from Hasanda-Gol in Mongolia, placed a lower jaw fragment as ''Proailurus'' sp.,<ref name=Hunt1998/> but Peigne placed the fragment in [[Nimravidae|nimravid]] genus ''[[Eofelis]]'' instead, which later authors supported,<ref name=Peigne1999/><ref name=Werdelin2010/> although at least one suggested the fragment could be assigned to ''[[Pseudaelurus]] cuspidatus'' instead.<ref name=Rothwell2004>{{cite journal |author1=Rothwell, Tom |title=New Felid Material from the Ulaan Tologoi Locality, Loh Formation (Early Miocene) of Mongolia |journal= Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History|volume=285 |pages=157–165 |year=2004 |citeseerx=10.1.1.616.5669 |doi=10.1206/0003-0090(2004)285<0157:C>2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=85951519 |issn=0003-0090 }}</ref>

''P. major'' and ''P. bourbonnensis'' are both known from a single locality each: ''P. major'' from [[Saint-Gérand-le-Puy]] and ''P. bourbonnensis'' from Saint-Gérand-le-Puy, Weisbaden-Amoneburg, and [[Budenheim]] (where it is the only ''Proailurus'' species known from the [[Mainz Basin]]).<ref name=Peigne1999/>

{{Location map+ |World |float=right |width=400 |caption=Location of Proailurus fossil finds based on Paleobiology Database. Red, ''Proailurus lemanensis''; orange, ''Proailurus'' sp.; yellow, ''Proailurus''-like felid (Hunt, 1998).
|places=
{{location map~ |World |lat=50.0 |long=8.2 |label=<span class="nowrap" style="font-size:80%;">[[Budenheim and Heßler quarries]]</span>|position=top}}
{{location map~ |World |lat=41.3 |long=2.0 |mark=Orange_pog.svg |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">[[Cetina de Aragon]]</div>|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |World |lat=45.3 |long=101.6 |mark=Orange_pog.svg |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">[[Hsanda Gol Formation]]</div>|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |World |lat=46.3 |long=3.2 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">[[Coderet]]</div> |position=left}}
{{location map~ |World |lat=42.8 |long=-103.1 |mark=Yellow_pog.svg |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">[[Ginn Quarry]]</div> |position=left}}
}}

Several fossils believed to be ''Proailurus''-grade material have been found in North America, including the Ginn Quarry cat, known from a complete skull, which has dentition similar to ''Proailurus lemanensis'' but with a slightly larger skull. Robert Hunt also noted several specimens that he believed belonged to ''Proailurus''-grade felids, including a pair from the Sheep Creek site in Nebraska, one a lynx-sized felid, the other closer in size to a leopard; another individual from an East Cuyumungue locality, possibly the same species as the larger Sheep Creek specimen; and another specimen from Echo Quarry.<ref name=Hunt1998/> However, the larger Sheep Creek specimen, the East Cuyumungue individual, and the Echo Quarry specimen were all described and assigned to the species ''[[Hyperailurictis]] validus'' in 2001,<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Rothwell, Tom |title=A partial skeleton of Pseudaelurus (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Nambé Member of the Tesuque Formation, Española Basin, New Mexico |journal=American Museum Novitates |issue=3342 |pages=1–31 |year=2001 |issn=0003-0082 |doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2001)342<0001:APSOPC>2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=54211452 |url=http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/2895/n3342.pdf?sequence=1}}</ref> and the smaller Sheep Creek material to ''Pseudaelurus skinneri'' in 2003.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Rothwell, Tom |title=Phylogenetic systematics of North American ''Pseudaelurus'' (Carnivora: Felidae) |journal=American Museum Novitates |issue=3403 |year=2003 |pages=1–64 |url=http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/2829/v2/dspace/ingest/pdfSource/nov/N3403.pdf?sequence=1&sa=U&ei=0S79UNrkFJSGhQeUhIDIBQ&ved=0CBUQFjAA&sig2=r_VziMUyYLwJPQq_P43EJw&usg=AFQjCNEfHwEMGAy1RZq4OJi40dkySY-o7A |issn=0003-0082 |doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2003)403<0001:PSONAP>2.0.CO;2|s2cid=67753626 }}</ref> The Ginn Quarry cat was described, but not assigned to any taxa, in 2019; though the authors did state that "it should not be dismissed as a 'proailurine-grade' felid" and suggested placing it in ''Hyperailurictis'' (despite being considerably older than any known ''Hyperailurictis'') or a new genus.<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=Lyras, G.A.|author2=Giannakopoulou, A.|author3=Werdelin, L.|title=The brain anatomy of an early Miocene felid from Ginn Quarry (Nebraska, USA)|journal=PalZ|issue=2|pages=345–355|year=2019|volume=93 |doi=10.1007/s12542-018-00444-9|s2cid=150052167 |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-018-00444-9|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Evolution==
''Proailurus'' is believed to have evolved from earlier ailuroid carnivorans such as ''Stenogale'' and ''Haplogale''.<ref name=Hunt1998/> It is a likely ancestor of ''[[Pseudaelurus]]'', which lived 20–10 million years ago, and probably gave rise to the major felid lines, including the extinct [[Machairodontinae|machairodontines]] and the extant [[Felinae|felines]] and [[Pantherinae|pantherines]], although the [[phylogeny]] of the cats is still not precisely known.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Christiansen, Per |title=Phylogeny of the great cats (Felidae: Pantherinae), and the influence of fossil taxa and missing characters |journal=Cladistics |year=2008 |doi=10.1111/j.1096-0031.2008.00226.x |volume=24 |issue=6 |pages=977–992|pmid=34892880 |s2cid=84497516 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

''Proailurus'' is largely considered to be the first "true" cat and the ancestor of the entire cat family. Most studies support this, placing ''Proailurus'' as the basal member of the Felidae.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Rothwell, Tom |title=Phylogenetic Systematics of North American ''Pseudaelurus'' (Carnivora: Felidae) |journal=American Museum Novitates |issue=2403 |pages=1–64 |year=2003 |doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2003)403<0001:PSONAP>2.0.CO;2 |hdl=2246/2829|s2cid=67753626 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/292668 }}</ref> One 2005 phylogeny placed it as a basal member of the Feliformia,<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Wesley-Hunt, Gina D. |author2=Flynn, John J. |title=Phylogeny of the Carnivora: basal relationships among the Carnivoramorphans, and assessment of the position of 'Miacoidea' relative to Carnivora |journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology |volume=145 |issue=3 |pages=1–28 |year=2005 |doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2005.00194.x|doi-access=free }}</ref> but later studies do not support this.<ref name=Werdelin2010/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Feliformia|Fel.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q132036|from2=Q22112446}}

[[Category:Prehistoric felids]]
[[Category:Oligocene feliforms]]
[[Category:Miocene carnivorans]]
[[Category:Oligocene mammals of Europe]]
[[Category:Prehistoric carnivoran genera]]
[[Category:Chattian genus first appearances]]
[[Category:Miocene genus extinctions]]
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 1879]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Henri Filhol]]
[[Category:Miocene mammals of Europe]]