Felids[1] Fossil range: Late Oligocene to Recent
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Feliformia Family: Felidae G. Fischer de Waldheim, 1817
Subfamilies
Felinae Pantherinae †Machairodontinae †Proailurinae[2]

Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene period and extends from about 33 The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The diverse order Carnivora (kɑrˈnɪvərə or sometimes /ˌkɑrnɪˈvɔərə/ from Latin carō (stem carn-) "flesh" + vorāre The Feliformia ('cat-like' carnivores also Feloidea are a suborder within the order Carnivora and includes the 'true-cats' (large and small Hyenas, Mongooses Johann Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim ( Grigorij Ivanovitsch Fischer von Waldheim in Russian) ( October 13, 1771 &ndash October 18, Pantherinae is the subfamily of the family Felidae which includes the genera Panthera, Uncia and Neofelis The Machairodontinae form a subfamily of the Felidae (true cats __NOEDITSECTION__ Proailurus was a prehistoric Carnivore that lived in Europe and Asia approximately 25 million years ago in the Late Oligocene and In Biological classification, family ( Latin Felids are the most strictly carnivorous of the nine mammal families in the order Carnivora. A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used The diverse order Carnivora (kɑrˈnɪvərə or sometimes /ˌkɑrnɪˈvɔərə/ from Latin carō (stem carn-) "flesh" + vorāre The most familiar felid is the Domestic Cat, which first became associated with humans about 10,000 years ago, but the family includes all other wild cats including the big cats. WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic The term big cat is used to distinguish the larger cat species from smaller ones

Extant felids belong to one of two subfamilies: Pantherinae (which includes the Lion, the Tiger and the Leopard), and Felinae (which includes the Cougar, the Cheetah, lynxes and the Caracal, along with the Domestic Cat). Pantherinae is the subfamily of the family Felidae which includes the genera Panthera, Uncia and Neofelis The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities A lynx is any of four medium-sized wild cats. All are members of the Genus Lynx, but there is considerable confusion about the best way to classify The Caracal ( Caracal caracal) also called Persian Lynx or African Lynx, is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat.

The first felids emerged during the Oligocene, about 25 million years ago. The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene period and extends from about 33 A year (from Old English gēr) is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the Orbit of the Earth around the Sun In prehistoric times, there was a third subfamily Machairodontinae, which included the "saber-toothed cats" such as the well known Smilodon. Stone Age Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens, Early human migrations "Paleolithic" The Machairodontinae form a subfamily of the Felidae (true cats The terms saber-toothed cat, sabertooth, and saber-toothed tiger describe numerous species mainly in the families Felidae (subfamily Machairodontinae Smilodon (ˈsmаɪləˌdɒn sometimes called saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct Genus of large machairodontine Saber-toothed There were also other cat-like mammals, such as Thylacosmilus or the Nimravidae which are not included in Felidae despite superficial similarities. Thylacosmilus ("pouch sabre" was a Genus of sabre-toothed Marsupial predators that first appeared during the Miocene. The Nimravidae, sometimes known as false sabre-tooths, are an Extinct family of Mammalian carnivores. Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages

Contents 1 Evolution 2 Characteristics 2.1 Physical appearance 2.2 Senses 2.3 Dentition 3 Classification 3.1 Extant species 3.2 Alternative classification 4 Fossil felids 5 Genera of the Felidae 6 Cited references 7 General references

Evolution

There are 40 known species of felids in the world today which have all descended from a common ancestor about 10. 8 million years ago. ^[1] This taxon originated in Asia and spread across continents by crossing land bridges. A continent is one of several large Landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by Convention rather than any strict criteria with seven regions A land bridge, in Biogeography, is an Isthmus or other land connection between otherwise separate areas which allows Animals and Plants As reported in the journal Science, testing of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA by Warren Johnson and Stephen O'Brien of the U. Science is the Academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is considered one of the world's most prestigious Scientific Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) is the DNA located in Organelles called mitochondria. Nuclear DNA, nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (nDNA is DNA contained within a nucleus of eukaryotic organisms. S. National Cancer Institute demonstrated that ancient cats evolved into eight main lineages that diverged in the course of at least 10 migrations (in both directions) from continent to continent via the Bering land bridge and Isthmus of Panama. The National Cancer Institute (NCI is part of the United States Federal government's National Institutes of Health. The Bering land bridge was a Land bridge roughly 1000 miles (1600 km north to south at its greatest extent which joined present-day Alaska and eastern Siberia The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific The Panthera species are the oldest and the Felis species are the youngest. Panthera is a Genus of the family Felidae (the cats which contains four well-known living Species: the Tiger, the Felis is a Genus of cats in the family Felidae. The genus is composed of these species Chinese Mountain Cat, Felis They estimated that 60 percent of the modern species of cats developed within the last million years. ^[3] Most felids have a haploid number of 18 or 19. "Haplo" redirects here For the fictional character see The Death Gate Cycle. New World cats (those in Central and South America) have a haploid number of 18, possibly due to the combination of two smaller chromosomes into one larger chromosome. A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and Protein that is found in cells. ^[4]

Prior to this discovery, biologists had been largely unable to establish a family tree of cats from the fossil record because the fossils of different cat species all look very much alike, differing primarily in size. Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system.

The felids' closest relatives are thought to be the civets, hyenas, and mongooses. Civets are small lithe-bodied mostly arboreal Mammals native to the tropics of Africa and Asia The Hyaenidae is a Mammalian family of order Carnivora. The Hyaenidae family native to both African and Asian continents consists of four A mongoose (plural mongooses) is a member of the family Herpestidae (although also used for some members of Eupleridae) a family of small All felid species share a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting sweetness. ^[5]

Characteristics

Felids are purely carnivorous animals, subsisting almost entirely on other vertebrates. A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting Aside from the Lion, they are solitary. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. Most are secretive animals, often nocturnal, and live in relatively inaccessible habitats. Around three-quarters of cat species live in forested terrain, and they are generally agile climbers. A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria However, felids may be found in almost any environment, with some species being native to mountainous terrain or deserts. A mountain is a Landform that extends above the surrounding Terrain in a limited area with a peak A desert is a Landscape or region that receives very little precipitation.

Wild felids are native to every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Physical appearance

The various species of felid vary greatly in size. Smilodon (ˈsmаɪləˌdɒn sometimes called saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct Genus of large machairodontine Saber-toothed One of the smallest is the Black-footed Cat at between 35-40 cm in length, while the largest is the Tiger. The black-footed cat ( Felis nigripes) is a small wild cat distributed over South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and marginally into Compared with many other mammals, they have relatively short faces, and good binocular vision. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands

The fur of felids takes many different forms, being much thicker in those species that live in cold environments, such as the Snow Leopard. Fur is a body hair of any non-human Mammal, also known as the Pelage. The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia) sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from Afghanistan Northern The colour of felids is also highly variable, although brown to golden fur is common in most species, often marked with distinctive spots, stripes, or rosettes. Many species also have a "tear stripe," a black stripe running from the corner of each eye down the side of the nose.

The tongue of felids is covered with horny papillae, which help to rasp meat from their prey. The tongue is the large bundle of Skeletal muscles on the floor of the Mouth that manipulates Food for chewing and swallowing (deglutition The filiform papillae are thin long Papillae "V"-shaped cones that don't contain taste buds but are the most numerous Almost all felids have fully retractable claws (one exception is the Cheetah). A claw is a curved pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most Mammals, Birds, and some Reptiles.

Senses

Felids have relatively large eyes, situated to provide binocular vision. Binocular vision is vision in which both Eyes are used together Their night vision is especially good, due to the presence of a tapetum lucidum, which reflects light back inside the eyeball, and gives cat's eyes their distinctive shine. The tapetum lucidum ( Latin: "bright tapestry" plural tapeta lucida) is a layer of tissue in the Eye of many Vertebrate animals that

The ears of felids are also large, and, in the smaller cats, especially sensitive to high-frequency sounds. Felids have a highly developed sense of smell, although not as much so as in canids. The Canidae (ˈkænədiː ′kanə′dē family is a part of the order Carnivora within the Mammals (Class Mammalia This is further supplemented by the presence of a vomeronasal organ in the roof of the mouth, allowing the animal to "taste" the air. The vomeronasal organ ( VNO) or Jacobson's organ, is an auxiliary Olfactory Sense organ that is found in many Animals It was The use of this organ is associated with the Flehmen response, in which the upper lip is curled upwards. The flehmen response, ˈflɛːmən or fleɪmən also called the flehmen position, flehmen reaction, flehming, or flehmening (from German

Felids possess highly sensitive vibrissa (whiskers) set deep within the skin, and provide the cat with sensory information about the slightest air movement around it. For this reason they are very helpful for a nocturnal hunter. Most felids are able to land on their feet after a fall, an ability which relies on vision and the sense of balance acting together. Equilibrioception or sense of balance is one of the physiological Senses It helps prevent Humans and Animals from falling over when

Dentition

With only a few exceptions, such as the lynx, felids have the dental formula:

3. A lynx is any of four medium-sized wild cats. All are members of the Genus Lynx, but there is considerable confusion about the best way to classify Dentition is the development of Teeth and their arrangement in the Mouth. 1. 3. 1

3. 1. 2. 1

The canine teeth are large, reaching exceptional size in the extinct saber-tooth species. "Cuspid" redirects here For the heart valves see Bicuspid valve and Tricuspid valve. The terms saber-toothed cat, sabertooth, and saber-toothed tiger describe numerous species mainly in the families Felidae (subfamily Machairodontinae The upper third premolar and lower molar are adapted as carnassial teeth, suited to tearing and cutting flesh. Carnassials are large teeth found in many Carnivorous Mammals, used for shearing flesh and bone in a Scissor or Shear -like way

The jaws of felids can only move vertically. This prevents them from being able to chew, but makes it easier for their powerful masseter jaw muscles to hold struggling prey. In human anatomy the masseter is one of the Muscles of mastication.

Classification

Traditionally five subfamilies are distinguished, the Felinae, the Pantherinae, the Acinonychinae (Cheetahs) and the extinct Machairodontinae and Proailurinae^[6]. Pantherinae is the subfamily of the family Felidae which includes the genera Panthera, Uncia and Neofelis The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities The Machairodontinae form a subfamily of the Felidae (true cats __NOEDITSECTION__ Proailurus was a prehistoric Carnivore that lived in Europe and Asia approximately 25 million years ago in the Late Oligocene and However the Acinonychinae are probably invalid, as genetic evidence suggests that cheetahs and pumas are close relatives.

Extant species

• FAMILY FELIDAE^[1]
  • Subfamily Felinae
    • Genus Felis
      • Chinese Mountain Cat (Felis bieti)
      • Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
      • Jungle Cat (Felis chaus)
      • Pallas's Cat (Felis manul)
      • Sand Cat (Felis margarita)
      • Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes)
      • Wild Cat (Felis silvestris)
    • Genus Prionailurus
      • Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
      • Iriomote Cat (Prionailurus iriomotensis)
      • Flat-headed Cat (Prionailurus planiceps)
      • Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)
      • Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
    • Genus Puma
      • Cougar (Puma concolor)
      • Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi)
    • Genus Acinonyx
      • Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
    • Genus Lynx
      • Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
      • Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)
      • Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
      • Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
    • Genus Leopardus
      • Pantanal Cat (Leopardus braccatus)
      • Colocolo (Leopardus colocolo)
      • Geoffroy's Cat (Leopardus geoffroyi)
      • Kodkod (Leopardus guigna)
      • Andean Mountain Cat (Leopardus jacobitus)
      • Pampas Cat (Leopardus pajeros)
      • Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
      • Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)
      • Margay (Leopardus wiedii)
    • Genus Leptailurus
      • Serval (Leptailurus serval)
    • Genus Caracal
      • Caracal (Caracal caracal)
    • Genus Profelis
      • African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata)
    • Genus Catopuma
      • Bay Cat (Catopuma badia)
      • Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii)
    • Genus Pardofelis
      • Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
  • Subfamily Pantherinae
    • Genus Neofelis
      • Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
      • Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi)
    • Genus Panthera
      • Lion (Panthera leo)
      • Jaguar (Panthera onca)
      • Leopard (Panthera pardus)
      • Tiger (Panthera tigris)
    • Genus Uncia
      • Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)

Alternative classification

Genetic research gives a more concise classification for the living members of the cat family:^{[7][1] [8]}

• Lineage 1: Panthera, Uncia, Neofelis
• Lineage 2: Pardofelis, Catopuma,
• Lineage 3: Leptailurus, Caracal, Profelis
• Lineage 4: Leopardus
• (Lineage group)
  • Lineage 5: Lynx
  • Lineage 6: Puma, Acinonyx
  • Lineage 7: Prionailurus, Otocolobus
  • Lineage 8: Felis

The last four lineages are more related to each other than to other lineages and form a clade within Felinae. The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. The jaguar (Panthera onca,, or—especially in British English — is a New World Mammal of the Felidae family and one of The Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx) is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests where it is one of the predators The Margay ( Leopardus wiedii) is a spotted cat native to Central and South America. The Wildcat ( Felis silvestris) sometimes Wild Cat or Wild-cat, is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia Felis is a Genus of cats in the family Felidae. The genus is composed of these species Chinese Mountain Cat, Felis The Chinese Mountain Cat ( Felis bieti) also known as the Chinese Desert Cat, is a small wild cat of western China. The Chinese Mountain Cat ( Felis bieti) also known as the Chinese Desert Cat, is a small wild cat of western China. WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic The jungle cat ( Felis chaus) also called the swamp lynx (although not closely related to the Lynxes, is a medium-small cat but is now considered the largest The jungle cat ( Felis chaus) also called the swamp lynx (although not closely related to the Lynxes, is a medium-small cat but is now considered the largest Pallas' Cat ( Felis manul) also known as the manul, is a small wild cat of Central Asia. Pallas' Cat ( Felis manul) also known as the manul, is a small wild cat of Central Asia. The Sand Cat ( Felis margarita) is a small wild cat distributed over African and Asian deserts The Sand Cat ( Felis margarita) is a small wild cat distributed over African and Asian deserts The black-footed cat ( Felis nigripes) is a small wild cat distributed over South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and marginally into The black-footed cat ( Felis nigripes) is a small wild cat distributed over South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and marginally into The Wildcat ( Felis silvestris) sometimes Wild Cat or Wild-cat, is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia The Wildcat ( Felis silvestris) sometimes Wild Cat or Wild-cat, is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia Prionailurus is a Genus comprised of a number of Asian small Cats Cats usually considered to be members of this genus are The Leopard Cat ( Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat of Southeast Asia. The Leopard Cat ( Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat of Southeast Asia. The Iriomote wildcat ( Prionailurus iriomotensis; Japanese: 西表山猫 Iriomote-yamaneko) is a wild cat about the size of a Domestic The Iriomote wildcat ( Prionailurus iriomotensis; Japanese: 西表山猫 Iriomote-yamaneko) is a wild cat about the size of a Domestic The Flat-headed Cat ( Prionailurus planiceps) is a small wild cat from forested areas mainly near water in Peninsular Thailand, Malaysia The Flat-headed Cat ( Prionailurus planiceps) is a small wild cat from forested areas mainly near water in Peninsular Thailand, Malaysia The Rusty-spotted Cat ( Prionailurus rubiginosus) is a very small wild cat of southern India and Sri Lanka. The Rusty-spotted Cat ( Prionailurus rubiginosus) is a very small wild cat of southern India and Sri Lanka. The Fishing Cat ( Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized cat whose habitat range extends through Indochina, India, Pakistan The Fishing Cat ( Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized cat whose habitat range extends through Indochina, India, Pakistan Puma is a Felidae genus that contains the Cougar (also known as the Puma, among other names and the Jaguarundi. The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family The jaguarundi ( Puma yagouaroundi) is a medium-sized Mexican, Central and South American wild cat: average length 65 cm (30 inches The jaguarundi ( Puma yagouaroundi) is a medium-sized Mexican, Central and South American wild cat: average length 65 cm (30 inches The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities A lynx is any of four medium-sized wild cats. All are members of the Genus Lynx, but there is considerable confusion about the best way to classify The Canadian lynx ( Lynx canadensis) is a North American Mammal of the cat family Felidae. The Canadian lynx ( Lynx canadensis) is a North American Mammal of the cat family Felidae. The Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx) is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests where it is one of the predators The Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx) is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests where it is one of the predators The Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus) sometimes referred to as the Spanish lynx, is a Critically endangered Feline mammal native to the The Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus) sometimes referred to as the Spanish lynx, is a Critically endangered Feline mammal native to the The Bobcat ( Lynx rufus) is a North American Mammal of the cat family Felidae. The Bobcat ( Lynx rufus) is a North American Mammal of the cat family Felidae. The Genus Leopardus consists of small spotted cats mostly native to Central and South America. The Pantanal Cat ( Leopardus braccatus) is a small feline of Brazil and northern Argentina. The Pantanal Cat ( Leopardus braccatus) is a small feline of Brazil and northern Argentina. The Colocolo ( Leopardus colocolo) is a small striped cat native to the western central South America, ranging from Ecuador and Chile across The Colocolo ( Leopardus colocolo) is a small striped cat native to the western central South America, ranging from Ecuador and Chile across Geoffroy's Cat ( Leopardus geoffroyi) is probably the most common wild cat in South America. Geoffroy's Cat ( Leopardus geoffroyi) is probably the most common wild cat in South America. The Kodkod ( Leopardus guigna) alternatively spelled Codcod and also known as the Guiña, is the smallest cat in the Americas The Kodkod ( Leopardus guigna) alternatively spelled Codcod and also known as the Guiña, is the smallest cat in the Americas The Andean Mountain Cat ( Leopardus jacobitus or L jacobita) is also known as the Andean Cat. The Andean Mountain Cat ( Leopardus jacobitus or L jacobita) is also known as the Andean Cat. The Pampas Cat ( Leopardus pajeros) is a small feline from the Pampas area of Argentina and Chile The Pampas Cat ( Leopardus pajeros) is a small feline from the Pampas area of Argentina and Chile The Ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis) also known as the Painted Leopard, McKenney's Wildcat, Jaguatirica (in Brazil or Manigordo The Ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis) also known as the Painted Leopard, McKenney's Wildcat, Jaguatirica (in Brazil or Manigordo Tiger Cat redirects here For the Tom and Jerry Tales episode see Tiger Cat (Tom and Jerry Tales. Tiger Cat redirects here For the Tom and Jerry Tales episode see Tiger Cat (Tom and Jerry Tales. The Margay ( Leopardus wiedii) is a spotted cat native to Central and South America. The Margay ( Leopardus wiedii) is a spotted cat native to Central and South America. The Serval (ˈsɝvəl Leptailurus serval) is a medium-sized African wild cat. The Serval (ˈsɝvəl Leptailurus serval) is a medium-sized African wild cat. The Serval (ˈsɝvəl Leptailurus serval) is a medium-sized African wild cat. The Caracal ( Caracal caracal) also called Persian Lynx or African Lynx, is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat. The Caracal ( Caracal caracal) also called Persian Lynx or African Lynx, is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat. The Caracal ( Caracal caracal) also called Persian Lynx or African Lynx, is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat. The African Golden Cat ( Profelis aurata) is a medium-sized wild cat distributed over the Rainforests of West and Central Africa The African Golden Cat ( Profelis aurata) is a medium-sized wild cat distributed over the Rainforests of West and Central Africa The African Golden Cat ( Profelis aurata) is a medium-sized wild cat distributed over the Rainforests of West and Central Africa Catopuma is the genus of two small Asian Felines the Bay Cat and the Asian Golden Cat. The Bay Cat ( Pardofelis badia, other genus names in use are Felis, Profelis, Catopuma or Badiofelis) is also known as The Bay Cat ( Pardofelis badia, other genus names in use are Felis, Profelis, Catopuma or Badiofelis) is also known as The Asian Golden Cat ( Pardofelis temminckii, previously been placed in genera Catopuma, Profelis and Felis) also called the Asiatic Golden The Asian Golden Cat ( Pardofelis temminckii, previously been placed in genera Catopuma, Profelis and Felis) also called the Asiatic Golden The Marbled Cat ( Pardofelis marmorata) is similar in size to the Domestic Cat, with a longer more thickly furred tail an indicator of an arboreal life-style where The Marbled Cat ( Pardofelis marmorata) is similar in size to the Domestic Cat, with a longer more thickly furred tail an indicator of an arboreal life-style where The Marbled Cat ( Pardofelis marmorata) is similar in size to the Domestic Cat, with a longer more thickly furred tail an indicator of an arboreal life-style where Pantherinae is the subfamily of the family Felidae which includes the genera Panthera, Uncia and Neofelis The genus Neofelis contains two species the Clouded Leopard ( N The Clouded Leopard ( Neofelis nebulosa) is a medium-sized cat, 55 to 110 cm (2 ft to 3 ft 6 in long and weighing between 15 and 23 kg (33 to 50 lb The Clouded Leopard ( Neofelis nebulosa) is a medium-sized cat, 55 to 110 cm (2 ft to 3 ft 6 in long and weighing between 15 and 23 kg (33 to 50 lb The Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi is a medium-sized wild cat found on Borneo, Sumatra and the Batu Islands in the The Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi is a medium-sized wild cat found on Borneo, Sumatra and the Batu Islands in the Panthera is a Genus of the family Felidae (the cats which contains four well-known living Species: the Tiger, the The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. The jaguar (Panthera onca,, or—especially in British English — is a New World Mammal of the Felidae family and one of The jaguar (Panthera onca,, or—especially in British English — is a New World Mammal of the Felidae family and one of The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia) sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from Afghanistan Northern The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia) sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from Afghanistan Northern The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia) sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from Afghanistan Northern Panthera is a Genus of the family Felidae (the cats which contains four well-known living Species: the Tiger, the The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia) sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from Afghanistan Northern The genus Neofelis contains two species the Clouded Leopard ( N The Marbled Cat ( Pardofelis marmorata) is similar in size to the Domestic Cat, with a longer more thickly furred tail an indicator of an arboreal life-style where Catopuma is the genus of two small Asian Felines the Bay Cat and the Asian Golden Cat. The Serval (ˈsɝvəl Leptailurus serval) is a medium-sized African wild cat. The Caracal ( Caracal caracal) also called Persian Lynx or African Lynx, is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat. The African Golden Cat ( Profelis aurata) is a medium-sized wild cat distributed over the Rainforests of West and Central Africa The Genus Leopardus consists of small spotted cats mostly native to Central and South America. A lynx is any of four medium-sized wild cats. All are members of the Genus Lynx, but there is considerable confusion about the best way to classify Puma is a Felidae genus that contains the Cougar (also known as the Puma, among other names and the Jaguarundi. The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities Prionailurus is a Genus comprised of a number of Asian small Cats Cats usually considered to be members of this genus are Pallas' Cat ( Felis manul) also known as the manul, is a small wild cat of Central Asia. Felis is a Genus of cats in the family Felidae. The genus is composed of these species Chinese Mountain Cat, Felis A clade is a taxonomic group comprising a single Common ancestor and all the descendants of that ancestor

Fossil felids

The oldest known true felid (Proailurus) lived in the late Oligocene and early Miocene eras. __NOEDITSECTION__ Proailurus was a prehistoric Carnivore that lived in Europe and Asia approximately 25 million years ago in the Late Oligocene and The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene period and extends from about 33 The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23 During the Miocene it gave way to Pseudaelurus. Pseudaelurus is a prehistoric cat that lived in Europe, Asia and North America in the Miocene approximately 20-8 million Pseudaelurus is believed to be the latest common ancestor of the two extant subfamilies and the extinct subfamily, Machairodontinae. The Machairodontinae form a subfamily of the Felidae (true cats This group, better known as the sabertooth cats, became extinct in the Late Pleistocene era. The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period It includes the genera Smilodon, Machairodus and Homotherium. Smilodon (ˈsmаɪləˌdɒn sometimes called saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct Genus of large machairodontine Saber-toothed Machairodus was a genus of large machairodontine Saber-toothed cats that lived in Europe, Asia, Africa and North Homotherium is a Genus of machairodontine Saber-toothed cats often termed 'scimitar cats' that lived approximately 5 million to 10000 The Metailurini have been placed originally as a distinct tirbe within the Machairodontinae but count as members of the Felinae today. Metailurini is a tribe of extinct Cats with canines longer than neofelids but smaller than true Saber toothed cats. ^[9] Sometimes they are supposed to form a distinct subfamily Metailurinae. ^[10]. The total number of fossil Felids that are known to science is not very high. Most extinct cat-like animals, once regarded as members of the Felidae, later turned out to be members of related, but distinct, families: the "false sabretooths" Nimravidae and Barbourofelidae. The Nimravidae, sometimes known as false sabre-tooths, are an Extinct family of Mammalian carnivores. Barbourofelidae is an Extinct family of Mammalian carnivores. The true cats (Felidae) radiated quite recently and most of the extant species are relatively young.

Genera of the Felidae

The list follows McKenna and Bells Classification of Mammals for prehistoric genera (1997)^[11] and Wozencraft (2005) in Wilson and Reeders Mammal Species of the World for extant genera ^[1]. Mammal Species of the World, now in its 3rd edition is a standard reference work in Zoology giving descriptions and bibliographic data for the known species of mammals Pseudaelurus is included here in the Felinae according to McKenna & Bell despite its basal position in felid evolution. Inconsistent to McKenna and Bell three additional prehistoric genera, Miracinonyx, Lokontailurus und Xenosmilus are listed, Sivapanthera is included into the Felinae (not Acinonychinae) and Ischrosmilus is included in the genus Smilodon. The American cheetahs (genus Miracinonyx) were at least two species of feline, morphologically similar to the modern Cheetah, Xenosmilus (from Greek,, xenos, "strange" +, smilē, " Chisel ") is a Genus of extinct Smilodon (ˈsmаɪləˌdɒn sometimes called saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct Genus of large machairodontine Saber-toothed

• †Proailurinae
  • †Proailurus
• Felinae
  • †Pseudaelurus
  • †Sivaelurus
  • †Vishnufelis
  • †Pikermia
  • †Abelia
  • †Nimravides
  • †Pratifelis
  • †Adelphailurus
  • †Metailurus
  • †Dinofelis
  • †Dolichofelis
  • †Sivapardus
  • †Jansofelis
  • †Sivapanthera
  • Acinonyx
  • †Miracinonyx
  • Puma
  • Felis
  • Prionailurus
  • Lynx
  • Leopardus
  • Leptailurus
  • Caracal
  • Profelis
  • Catopuma
  • Pardofelis
• Pantherinae
  • †Leontoceryx
  • †Dromopanthera
  • †Schaubia
  • †Viretailurus
  • Panthera
  • Neofelis
  • Uncia
• †Machairodontinae
  • †Machairodus
  • †Homotherium
  • †Xenosmilus
  • †Lokontailurus
  • †Miomachairodus
  • †Hemimachairodus
  • †Paramachairodus
  • †Megantereon
  • †Smilodon

Cited references

General references

• Shoemaker, Alan (1996). 1996 Taxonomic and Legal Status of the Felidae. Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Retrieved on 2006-07-15. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final
• Turner, A. (1997). The big cats and their fossil relatives. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-10229-1.  
• Kirby, G. (1984). "Cat family", in Macdonald, D. : The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Facts on File. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.  

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