Feline Species


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There are 36 species of wild cats. In early March 1996 the Felid TAG (Taxonomic Advisory Council) had a conference. At this meeting a revised felid taxonomy was officially agreed to. As you may have noticed in the past, many different books gave different taxonomies - for example, the snow leopard being in 'panthera' or 'uncia', all small cats being 'felis' vs many different small cat genera, etc. We at the FCC formerly followed standard zoo taxonomy, which recognized 3 genera - Panthera, Felis, and Acinonyx.

The new taxonomy agreed to basically divides the former Felis and Panthera groups into 13 and 4 genera respectively, for a total of 18 genera (13 in the Felidae subfamily, 4 in the Pantherinae subfamily, and 1 in the Acinonychinae subfamily). There are still 36 species (the Iriomote cat is officially a subspecies of Leopard cat, and the Canadian, Eurasian, and Iberian Lynxes are officially different genera, not subspecies). Most species are further divided into subspecies, based on physical distinction and/or geographic separation. I have only gone into detail about the leopard subspecies, as these groupings are fairly well agreed upon. Most cat species' subspeciation is a topic of debate.

The 14 species FCC/EFBC is currently home to are described below, and their IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List status. The Red List takes into account overall world-wide populations, so even if a cat is endangered in one country or state, as a species it may not be listed as endangered. The six categories are: Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, and Data Deficient. (Information taken from the Autumn 1995 Cat News, a publication of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group). Other detailed information on the different species of cats can be found at the Cyberzoo - or Big Cats Online.

  • Leopards (Panthera pardus)
    There are over 20 subspecies of leopards, found in both Asia and Africa. Leopards are the widest-ranging big cat, and one of the most adaptable. They can live in a large variety of habitats, from deserts to jungles, and even near large human cities. Eight subspecies are endangered, 4 critically. Weights range from 70 to 200 pounds, with males a third again as large as females. Cats from cold mountain ranges are larger than average. 10 times as strong as humans pound for pound, they can carry prey weighing 3 times their weight into trees. By carrying their kill into trees, they keep it safe from other large predators, such as lions, hyenas, and tigers.
  • Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
    The smallest "big" cat, only 30-50 pounds full-grown. A tree-dweller, they have short legs, big feet, and long tails, to help their balance and climbing skills. Listed as Vulnerable in the wild, they have a wide range in tropical Asia, but are threatened by high rates of deforestation and continued hunting for their pelts. Their numbers have probably declined 20% over the past 15 years. They also have the longest canine teeth relative to body size of any cat. Difficult to breed in captivity, partly because the male often accidentally kills the female while breeding, we currently are home to 3 males and an older female.

  • Jaguar (Panthera onca)
    The largest Western Hemisphere cat, they can weigh up to 300 pounds, but average 200-250 for males, 150-200 for females. They look like a larger, stronger cousin of the leopard. Their rosettes are larger and set farther apart, with enclosed spots more common than in the leopard. They are much more muscular, in particular in the neck region. They are one of only a few cats that enjoy water. They have been extinct in the southern US for at least 100 years, although a few strays from Mexico are sometimes sighted. Subspeciation in jaguars has not been examined since 1939. In many areas they are declining or near extinction, however they are listed as Near Threatened because of the large numbers surviving in the Amazon basin rainforests. Overall they are close to Vulnerable status, with three potential subspecies being in worse shape. They face extirpation at the hands of local cattle ranchers, fragmentation of forest habitats, deforestation rates of up to 15%, and competition with humans for prey. Commonly melanistic (black), EFBC/FCC is home to a mixed pair, a spotted male and a black female. Several of their litters have had both black and spotted cubs.

  • Tiger (Panthera tigris)
    Overall listed as Endangered, with the Amur (Siberian), South China, and Sumatran subspecies as Critically Endangered. Three subspecies have become extinct since the 1950's. The largest cat in the world is the Siberian or Amur tiger. The other subspecies are closer in size to lions. Overall, there are probably no more than 2500 breeding adult tigers in the wild. There are no subpopulations that contain over 250 mature individuals. There is a continuing decline all over their range due to poaching, persecution, and habitat loss. White tigers are not a separate species, just a color variation, similar to black leopards, etc. All the white tigers in captivity are descended from a single animal captured in 1950. Lions can also be white. In captivity tigers breed well, with up to 6 cubs in a litter. Many of the tigers seen in circuses or private owners are hybrids, as are some in zoos. There are between 500-600 purebred Siberian tigers in captivity, and about 300 each Sumatran and Bengal (Indian) tigers. The South China tiger is not found in captivity outside of China. We are home to 3 Siberians, a brother and 2 sisters born 12 years ago. Although purebred, their bloodlines are well represented in captivity, and we do not plan to breed them. The Species Survival Plan (SSP) for a species coordinates which cats should be bred, to minimize 'surplus' animals and ensure maximum genetic diversity in future generations.

  • Cougar (Puma concolor)
    The cat of many names, also called puma, mountain lion, panther, painter, catamount, American lion, deer tiger, brown tiger, and night screamer. The Florida panther and Eastern cougar of the United States are both Critically Endangered, all other subspecies are Least Concern. The Florida panther is down to 30-50 animals in southern Florida; one sub-population went extinct in 1991. They are threatened by physiological impairment ascribed to inbreeding depression and by road kill. Several Texas cougars were released in Florida in the past few years to augment this population. The Eastern cougar, occasionally sighted in the Appalachians, New England, and Ontario, survives only in small numbers in highly fragmented ranges. West of the Rocky Mountains cougars are much more numerous, as their primary prey (deer) is also numerous. In the past FCC cooperated in breeding research programs investigating in-vitro fertilization, using cougars as the subjects. Fertilized embryos were successfully produced and implanted, although no live births resulted. This program is now suspended while new hormone drugs are developed (the females built up an immunity to the drugs used in previous studies to bring on ovulation, impairing the program's success).

  • Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
    Overall listed as Least Concern, with the Texas subspecies as Data Deficient. Some reports have the Texas ocelot listed as extinct, while others estimate up to 100 may survive in the protected forest regions around the Rio Grande. They are a United States endangered species, making trade in the animals illegal without permits, and importing their pelts is banned. Similar to the jaguar, they are still numerous in the Amazon basin, and declining in the rest of their range throughout Central and South America. Between 1980 and 1984 the number of pelts on the world fur market declined from over 30,000 to 4,000. Their populations are affected by habitat destruction, hunting for their pelts, and the black market pet trade. In the 1960's they were popular as housepets, most of which were captured as wild cubs when the poachers killed the mothers. It is now illegal to own one privately in the US.

  • Margay (Leopardus wiedii)
    Also listed as Least Concern. A United States endangered species, same as the ocelot. Margays resemble a young ocelot. While still possible to find their pelts on the black market, they are no longer trapped in large numbers for the commercial fur trade, and the 4,000,000 square kilometer Amazon basin rainforests provide a substantial refuge buffering against losses due to deforestation elsewhere. Agile climbers with flexible ankles, they can climb down a tree head-first like a squirrel. Our young pair will be introduced when the female is a bit older

  • Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouarundi)
    Overall listed as Least Concern, with the Texas subspecies as Data Deficient. Also called the Otter Cat, an unusual weasel-like feline that is found in the central America and as far south as Paraguay. A few may still survive in southern Arizona and Texas. A United States endangered species. They are more active in daylight hours than most other wild cat species. They have seldom been studied in the wild.

  • Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
    Near Threatened. Although they have a substantial range in tropical Asia (over 1 million square kilometers), its actual area of occupancy is much smaller as it is strongly associated with wetlands. Water pollution and forest clearance for settlement threaten the species through much of its range. Deforestation rates in tropical Asia's wetlands are quite high, resulting in similar decline among the fishing cat populations. We occasionally give ours live fish for fun; here's Sassy fishing and catching them.

  • Serval (Leptailurus serval)
    Overall, Least Concern; North African serval, Endangered. The North African subspecies has been isolated from the sub-Saharan servals for 6000-7000 years. In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia there have been scattered reports of sightings, but no confirmed record since 1936. In southern Africa they survive in a variety of habitats, from the hot coastal belt, to thornscrub, savannah woodlands, and in mountain areas. Melanistic servals are more common above 10,000 feet.

  • Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
    On the Least Concern list, the bobcat is one of the few success stories of wild cats surviving in today's world. Highly adaptable to both habitat and prey, and not repelled by living close to humans, as many as 1 million live across the United States and southern Canada today. As many as 80,000 are trapped for their fur every year, with 37 states allowing this. They are found in deserts, mountains, forests, and swamps. Their average weight is only 20 pounds, and 80 percent of their diet is rabbits.

  • Lynx (Lynx lynx)
    The Canadian and Eurasian lynxes are both Least Concern, however the Iberian (or Spanish) lynx is Endangered. The population in estimated at 1200 in Spain and 100 in Portugal. They could decline 20 percent in the next 10 years due to habitat loss and reduced numbers of their main prey species, the European rabbit. The Canadian lynx is becoming very rare in the northern United States due to hunting, habitat destruction, and competition with the more aggressive bobcat. The Eurasian (aka Siberian) lynx is larger than the Canadian and more brown in coloration. Also highly dependent on rabbits, lynx populations closely follow those of rabbits. The European, Iberian, and Canadian lynxes are separate species, not subspecies.

  • Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
    A fairly common small cat in Asia, the standard Leopard Cat has been bred with domestics to produce the Bengal housecat breed. Ours are a subspecies known as Amur leopard cats, which are much rarer and are from the farthest north in the leopard cat range. Their coloration is quite different from the other leopards cats.

  • Wildcat (Felis silvestris)
    Overall Least Concern, with the Scottish subspecies listed as Vulnerable. Limited to less than 5000 square kilometers in northern Scotland, as many as 80 percent are hybridized with the domestic cat. The African wildcat (subspecies lybica) is generally accepted as the ancestor of today's domestic cat. Gordon's wildcat is found in the Mid-East (Arabian) countries.

  • Other Cat Species
    * Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
    * Caracal (Caracal caracal)
    * Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii)
    * Bornean bay cat (Catopuma badia)
    * Chinese mountain cat (Felis bieti)
    * Jungle cat (Felis chaus)
    * Sand cat (Felis margarita)
    * Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes)
    * Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)
    * Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis)
    * Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
    * Pampas cat (Oncifelis colocolo)
    * Geoffroys cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi)
    * Kodkod (Oncifelis guigna)
    * Andean mountain cat (Oreailurus jacobita)
    * Pallas cat (Otocolobus manul)
    * Lion (Panthera leo)
    * Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps)
    * Rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)
    * African golden cat (Profelis aurata)
    * Marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
    * Snow leopard (Uncia uncia)
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  • Page author: Nancy Vandermey

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