THE CAT FAMILY

H E R A
A NT Diagnosis: incomplete ossification of the
hyoid bone
P

Distribution: Africa, Middle East,

Southeast Asia
Addtl info: consists of five extant species
only four of these have large vocal folds
that allow them to have the ability to roar.
Watch them like a hawk at all times! NEOFELIS
Diagnosis: has vertical elliptic pupils,
missing first upper premolar, has hyoid
bone ossified
Distribution: Asia, Nepal, NE India, China,
Taiwan, and Hainan to southeastward of
Asia from Burnam, the Malay peninsula,
Sumatra, Java, and Borneo
Addtl info: forms monophyletic group
F E L I S
DO Diagnosis: Coat with irregular shaped consisting of two extant species
R dark blotches lined with black, ,
AP

relatively short legs, very long and

bushy tail
Distribution: Himalayan foothills in
southeast asia (Malaysia, Thailand)
Addtl info: known to have a
characteristic line pattern on their
head that resembles marble, hence the
name, Marbled cat.
CA R Diagnosis: red to brown colored coats,
elongated and black-tufted ears
Distribution: Africa, Central Asia, and
LAC A
southwestern Asia.
Addtl info: The Caracal genus is under
the subfamily Felinae in the family
Felidae and was considered to be a
monotypic genus, but was then
discovered to have another closely
related species which was included in
LE Diagnosis: Spotted coat with colors the genus.
ranging from brown to whitte, small
P O

rounded ears, nostrils widely separated.

SUDRA

Distribution: Central America,

southeastern United States, northern
Argentina
Addtl info: This genus is known to be
the oldest branch of small cats in the
Americas.

N X
LY
Diagnosis: short tails and pointed,
tufted black ears, coat’s color is varied
from golden brown to beige
Distribution: North America, Asia, and
Europe
Addtl info: Consists of 4 species
creating a monophyletic group.
 P Diagnosis: Large and slender stature,
coat color can range from yellowish

M U
brown to greyish brown.

A
Distribution: South america, from
southern Argentina to southern Alaska
Addtl info: This genus only consists of
one species, Puma concolor, which was
Diagnosis: Small rounded head with
originally named Felis concolor by Carl
Y X short ears, has a yellow and grey coat
ON
Linnaeus in 1771.
that is speckled with small round
N spots.

CI A
Distribution: From Palestine and
Arabian peninsula to Tajikistan and
central India, Africa
Addtl info: Cheetahs have curved and
blunted claws that weakly retract as
they primarily use their claws for
running.

A I L U R U S
I ON Diagnosis: long, tapering tail with short
R P

black tip, spots on the base, forehead

has a pattern of four well-developed
black bands
Distribution: South Asia, East Asia, and
Southeast Asia
Addtl info: Comprises of five species

Diagnosis: long dense gray or pale

reddish fur, has white guard hairs,
U S black tipped long tail, short stumpy
legs
OL B

Distribution: mostly in Central Asia,

O

can be seen in China, Mongolia,

C O

Kazakhstan, South Siberia, Iran,

T O

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and

Bhutan
Addtl info: Consists of five cat
species

I S
EL
Diagnosis: Large ear pinnae, coat
ranges from a pale yellow color to
F

grey with dark brown stripes.

Distribution: Sahara desert in Africa,
Algeria, Niger and Morocco, Arabian
Peninsula, Central Asia
Addtl info: A member of this genus,
the sand cat, is known as the smallest
of all the wild cats.