Scientists have identified a tiny species of cat that lived in China 300 thousand years ago from a fossilized jaw.. They found the remains of a cat that was so small it could fit in the palm of your hand..

Fossils were discovered deep in a cave where early humans lived. Researchers believe the extinct animal may be the tiniest cat they've ever seen..

This newly identified species is part of the leopard cat genus Prionailurus, a family of wild cats still extant in South Asia. While most modern leopard cats are closer in size to domestic cats - with an average length of 70 centimeters and weighing at least 2 kilograms - the species found was significantly smaller.

" It can be compared to the smallest living cat, weighing up to 1 kilogram,” says lead author of the study Qigao Jiangzuo.

The scientist said that cats were common elements of the Quaternary (geological period spanning from 2.58 million years ago to today) cave deposits. However, the discovery of such a small cat came as a surprise to them..

Fossilized remains of leopard cat ancestors are rare because these animals live in unprotected forests where their bones deteriorate more quickly, meaning few prehistoric specimens survive. The newly discovered specimen was preserved thanks to the cave's protective environment, giving researchers a unique opportunity to examine the fossils.

The scientist also noted that they plan to continue to systematically study cat species in China and around the world, which in the past were not sufficiently studied.

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