Felidae

Felines Fossil range: Eocene - Recent
Tiger
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae G. Fischer de Waldheim, 1817
Subfamilies
Felinae Pantherinae †Machairodontinae

The Felidae or cat family (also called felines) is a part of the order Carnivora within the mammals. It contains about 41 species including large animals such as the lion (Panthera leo) and the tiger (Panthera tigris), as well as smaller ones such as the bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the domestic cat (Felis catus).

Characteristics

Like most other members of the Carnivora (carnivores), cats mainly get food by killing and eating other animals. They are more strictly carnivorous (meat eating) than most other carnivore families. The teeth of cats are well suited to their diet, with long canines for gripping prey and blade-like molars for cutting flesh.

All cats walk on four feet, in a digitigrade manner — that is on their toes. Their hind legs are longer and stronger than their fore legs which gives them strength for sprinting and leaping, but not stamina for long distance running. Cats have claws on their to feet which are used for gripping prey, for fighting, and for climbing. In all cats except the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) the claws can be retracted into the toes, which helps keep them sharp.

Most cats have a long fur-covered tail which is used for balance in running and leaping, and sometimes for warmth. The bodies of all cats, except some breeds of domestic cat, are covered with thick fur. In most species this is spotted or striped.

Cats have very keen senses, especially their vision. Their eyes are large and are well suited for seeing in low levels of light. Cats typically do most of their hunting at night. They can not, however, see in total darkness.

Wildcat skull

With a few exceptions, most notably lions, cats live most of their lives alone. Male and female cats come together to mate, which in most species happens once a year. After the young are born, the mother takes care of them for about a year; until they are mature and experienced enough to live on their own.

The cat family is usually divided into the "big cats" of the subfamily Pantherinae and the "small cats" of the subfamily Felinae. The largest cat is the tiger, which can weigh as much as kg ( lb). The smallest cat is the Pallas's cat (Felis manul) which weighs about kg ( lb)(Nowak 1983). Some "small cats", for instance the cougar (Puma concolor) can weigh as much as some of the "big cats." Ligons, crossbreeds between lions and tigers, can weigh as much as 450 kg (1000 lbs).

Role in nature

Cats are found in most land environments on all continents except Antarctica and Australia (except for feral domestic cats). Some species of cats are native to tropical rain forests, grasslands, deserts, temperate forests, and high mountains.

Cats, like other predators, play an important role in keeping the populations of prey species under control so that excessive damage to plants is avoided and the balance of nature is preserved. Among the animals preyed upon by cats are rodents, birds, reptiles, and in the case of the larger species hoofed animals. Lions have been known to prey on African elephants, the world's largest land animal. The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) of Southeast Asia is a good swimmer and eats mainly fish.

Cats and humans

To humans the most important cat is the domestic cat, which is descended from the wild cat (Felis sylvestris). Since the time of ancient Egypt domestic cats, or their wild cat ancestors, have shared the homes of humans and have greatly benefited their hosts by killing destructive rodents. Domestic cats are now one of the most popular pets and are common all over the world. Feral cats, domestic cats which have returned to the wild, are a problem in many areas and have caused the extinction of some native species of birds and mammals (ISSG 2007).

Although most cat species are beneficial to humans because of their role in nature, some present a threat to domestic animals and, in the case of the big cats, to humans themselves. For this reason, as well as for their fur and for sport, cats have been hunted and trapped. Most cat species are now considered to be endangered in the wild (IUCN 2007).

In general cats are admired for their beauty, their grace, and their seemingly mysterious ways. They have often been featured in art and in legends and folktales. Cats are often used in advertising and as mascots for sports teams and military units.

Fossil felines

The oldest known true feline (Proailurus) lived in the Oligocene and Miocene eras. During the Miocene it gave way to Pseudaelurus. Pseudaelurus is believed to be the latest common ancestor of the two extant subfamilies and the extinct subfamily, Machairodontinae. This group, better known as the sabertooth cats, became extinct in the Late Pleistocene era. It includes the genera Smilodon, Machairodus, Dinofelis and Homotherium.

Classification

Lion

File:Manul1.jpg

Palla's cat

Cheetah

Cougar

Canadian lynx

• FAMILY FELIDAE
  • 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)
      • Wildcat (Felis sylvestris)
    • 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 (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 cat family :

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

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG). 2007. Global invasive species database: Felis catus. Invasive Species Specialist Group Website. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
• IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN). 2007. ICUN Red List of Threatened Species: Felidae. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
• Mott, M. (January 11, 2006). Cats Climb New family Tree. National Geographic News
• Nowak, R. M., and J. L. Paradiso. 1983. Walker's Mammals of the World. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801825253.
• Shoemaker, Alan (1996). 1996 Taxonomic and Legal Status of the Felidae. Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
• Turner, A. (1997). The big cats and their fossil relatives. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-10229-1. 
• Voelker, W. 1986. The Natural History of Living Mammals. Medford, New Jersey: Plexus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0937548081.

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