Felidae

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For other uses, see Felidae (disambiguation).
Felids[1]
Fossil range: 25–0 Ma
PreЄ
Є
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
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. Felids are
the strictest carnivores of the sixteen mammal families in the order Carnivora. 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.
Extant felids belong to one of two subfamilies: Pantherinae (which includes the Tiger, the Lion,
the Jaguar, and the Leopard), and Felinae (which includes the Cougar, the Cheetah, the Serval,
the Lynxes and Caracal, along with the Ocelot and Domestic Cat).

The first felids emerged during the Oligocene, about 25 million years ago. In prehistoric times,
there was a third subfamily known as Machairodontinae, which included the "saber-toothed cats"
such as the well known Smilodon. There were also other cat-like mammals, such as
Thylacosmilus or the Nimravidae, which are not included in Felidae despite superficial
similarities.

The tiger (Panthera tigris), a member of the Felidae family, is the largest of the four "big cats"
in the genus Panthera.[4] Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex
predator and an obligate carnivore. Reaching up to 3.3 metres (11 ft) in total length, weighing up
to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), and having canines up to 4 inches long,[5] the larger tiger
subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids.[6][7] Aside from their great bulk
and power, their most recognisable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-
white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts. The most numerous tiger subspecies is the
Bengal tiger while the largest is the Siberian tiger.
Tigers have a lifespan of 10–15 years in the wild, but can live longer than 20 years in captivity.[8]
They are highly adaptable and range from the Siberian taiga to open grasslands and tropical
mangrove swamps.

They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of
habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are indigenous to
some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with
humans. Three of the nine subspecies of modern tiger have gone extinct, and the remaining six
are classified as endangered, some critically so. The primary direct causes are habitat destruction,
fragmentation and hunting.

Historically tigers have existed from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus throughout most of South
and East Asia. Today the range of the species is radically reduced. While all surviving species
are under formal protection, poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding depression continue to
threaten the tigers.

Tigers are among the most recognizable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. They
have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in
modern films and literature. Tigers appear on many flags and coats of arms, as mascots for
sporting teams, and as the national animal of several Asian nations, including India.[

Lion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Lion (disambiguation).

Lion[1]
Fossil range: Early Pleistocene to recent

Male

Female (Lioness)
Conservation status

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: P. leo
Binomial name
Panthera leo
(Linnaeus, 1758)
 Historic (red) and present (blue)
distribution of lions

Distribution of lions in India. The Gir

Forest, in the State of Gujarat, is the last
natural range of approximately 300 wild
Asiatic Lions. There are plans to
reintroduce some lions to Kuno Wildlife
Sanctuary in the neighboring State of
Madhya Pradesh.
Synonyms
Felis leo
Linnaeus, 1758[3]

The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the
family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight,[4] it is the second-largest
living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia with a
critically endangered remnant population in Gir Forest National Park in India, having
disappeared from North Africa and Southwest Asia in historic times. Until the late Pleistocene,
about 10,000 years ago, the lion was the most widespread large land mammal after humans.
They were found in most of Africa, across Eurasia from western Europe to India, and in the
Americas from the Yukon to Peru.[5]

Lions live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than
twenty years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from
continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity.[6] They typically inhabit
savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social
compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small
number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large
ungulates. Lions are apex and keystone predators, although they scavenge as opportunity allows.
While lions do not typically hunt humans, some have been known to do so.

The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of thirty
to fifty percent over the past two decades in its African range.[7] Lion populations are untenable
outside designated reserves and national parks. Although the cause of the decline is not fully
understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the greatest causes of concern.
Lions have been kept in menageries since Roman times and have been a key species sought for
exhibition in zoos the world over since the late eighteenth century. Zoos are cooperating
worldwide in breeding programs for the endangered Asiatic subspecies.

Visually, the male lion is highly distinctive and is easily recognized by its mane. The lion,
particularly the face of the male, is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human
culture. Depictions have existed from the Upper Paleolithic period, with carvings and paintings
from the Lascaux and Chauvet Caves, through virtually all ancient and medieval cultures where
they once occurred. It has been extensively depicted in literature, in sculptures, in paintings, on
national flags, and in contemporary films and literature.

Cat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

This article deals with the domestic feline. For other uses, see Cat (disambiguation) or Cats
(disambiguation).

Domestic cat[1]

Conservation status

Domesticated

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Felis

Species: F. catus

Binomial name

Felis catus
(Linnaeus, 1758)[2]

Synonyms
Felis catus domestica (invalid junior
synonym)[3]
Felis silvestris catus[4]

The cat (Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or housecat[5] to distinguish it from other
felines and felids, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its
companionship and ability to hunt vermin and household pests. Cats have been associated with
humans for at least 9,500 years,[6] and are currently the most popular pet in the world.[7] Owing to
their close association with humans, cats are now found almost everywhere on Earth.

Their adaptability and predatory instincts make them effective hunters. In some locations, cats
have affected indigenous animal populations; this has led them to be classified as an invasive
species in some areas.

Cats also have a rapid breeding rate. Many problems are caused by the large number of feral cats
worldwide, with a population of up to 60 million of these animals in the United States alone.[8]
Failure to control the breeding of pet cats by spaying and neutering and the abandonment of
former household pets cause the development of such feral colonies.

Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp
retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. As nocturnal predators, cats use their
acute hearing and ability to see in near darkness to locate prey. Not only can cats hear sounds too
faint for human ears, they can also hear sounds higher in frequency than humans can perceive.
This is because cats' usual prey (particularly rodents such as mice) make high frequency noises,
so cats' hearing has evolved to pinpoint these faint high-pitched sounds. Cats rely more on smell
than taste, and have a vastly better sense of smell than humans.

Despite being solitary hunters, cats are a social species and use a variety of vocalizations,
pheromones and types of body language for communication. These include meowing, purring,
trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting.[9] They are also bred and shown as registered pedigree
pets. This hobby is known as cat fancy.

As The New York Times wrote in 2007, "Until recently the cat was commonly believed to have
been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal."[10] A study that year found that
the lines of descent of all house cats probably run through as few as five self-domesticating
African Wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) circa 8000 BC, in the Near East.[4] The earliest direct
evidence of cat domestication is a kitten that was buried alongside a human 9,500 years ago in
Cyprus.[11]

Contents
[hide]
Cheetah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the animal. For other uses, see Cheetah (disambiguation).

Cheetah[1]
Fossil range: Late Pliocene to Recent

Conservation status

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Acinonyx
Species: A. jubatus
Binomial name
Acinonyx jubatus
(Schreber, 1775)
 Type species
Acinonyx venator
Brookes, 1828 (= Felis jubata, Schreber,
1775) by monotypy
Subspecies
See text.

The range of the cheetah

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family (Felidae) that is unique
in its speed, while lacking strong climbing abilities. The species is the only living member of the
genus Acinonyx. It is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds between 112 and 120 km/h (70 and
75 mph)[3][4] in short bursts covering distances up to 460 m (1,510 ft), and has the ability to
accelerate from 0 to 103 km/h (64 mph) in three seconds, faster than most supercars.[5] Recent
studies confirm the cheetah's status as the fastest land animal.[6]

The word "cheetah" is derived from the Sanskrit word citrakāyaḥ, meaning "variegated body",
via the Hindi चीता cītā.[7]

Jaguar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Jaguar (disambiguation).
Jaguar [1]
 Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[2]

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: P. onca
Binomial name
Panthera onca
Linnaeus, 1758

Jaguar range

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera
species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion,
and the largest and most powerful feline in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range
extends from Mexico across much of Central America and south to Paraguay and northern
Argentina. Apart from a known and possibly breeding population in Arizona (southeast of
Tucson), the cat has largely been extirpated from the United States since the early 1900s.

This spotted cat most closely resembles the leopard physically, although it is usually larger and
of sturdier build and its behavioral and habitat characteristics are closer to those of the tiger.
While dense rainforest is its preferred habitat, the jaguar will range across a variety of forested
and open terrain. It is strongly associated with the presence of water and is notable, along with
the tiger, as a feline that enjoys swimming. The jaguar is a largely solitary, stalk-and-ambush
predator, and is opportunistic in prey selection. It is also an apex and keystone predator, playing
an important role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating the populations of prey species. The
jaguar has an exceptionally powerful bite, even relative to the other big cats.[3] This allows it to
pierce the shells of armoured reptiles[4] and to employ an unusual killing method: it bites directly
through the skull of prey between the ears to deliver a fatal bite to the brain.[5]

The jaguar is a near threatened species and its numbers are declining. Threats include habitat loss
and fragmentation. While international trade in jaguars or their parts is prohibited, the cat is still
regularly killed by humans, particularly in conflicts with ranchers and farmers in South America.
Although reduced, its range remains large; given its historical distribution, the jaguar has
featured prominently in the mythology of numerous indigenous American cultures, including
that of the Maya and Aztec.