Small cats
Article Abstract:
Molecular genetics is elucidating the relationships among of the 37 species of cats. Cats are divided among three major groups. About 10 million years ago the earliest branch appeared, leading to South America's small ocelot-like cats. Seven to none million years ago came the next major line and led to our domestic cat. This line included also the European wild cat, the jungle cat, the black-footed cat and the sand cat. The largest group started four to six million years ago and contains some 20 species. This groups includes the lynxes, the serval, the caracal, the golden cats, the fishing cat and finally the big cats.
Publication Name: Wildlife Conservation
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 1048-4949
Year: 1996
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Big cats
Article Abstract:
Jaguars, people and livestock can coexist in the same area when there is enough natural prey in the forest for the jaguars to eat and proper management of the domestic animals. The jaguars prefer forest cover and tend to avoid open areas and man-made enclosures. Jaguar populations are stable or increasing only in northern Central America and a forested pocked in southern Mexico, so adequate education for their management is essential. Radiotelemetry, captive behavior and fecal analysis have given us much data about this species.
Publication Name: Wildlife Conservation
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 1048-4949
Year: 1996
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Cat kin
Article Abstract:
Cats are members of the order Carnivora, which started some 65 million years ago. Ancestral carnivores are called miacids and at the time diversification of the order was taking place, a catlike branch of the miacids called the paleofelids evolved. Almost all of them disappeared in North America some 20 million years ago and were extinct all over the world by seven million years ago. As this extinction happened, a line of 'neofelids' started from which the cats or Felidae we know evolved.
Publication Name: Wildlife Conservation
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 1048-4949
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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