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This page contains a list
of the common and latin names of all wild cats. Where possible
we include links to other sites for further information.
The most comprehensive source of information currently
available on wild cats is to be found in the IUCN publication:
'Wild Cats, Status Survey and
Conservation Action Plan' compiled by Kristin
Nowell and Peter Jackson (ISBN 2-8317-0045-0).
To order, email the IUCN Publication Services Unit at iucn-psu@wcmc.org.uk ) You can research other sources of information
at your local library or by performing a search at amazon.com . An excellent source of readily available information
is to be found at the webpage: IUCN/Cat Specialist Group
WILD
CATS - A
SPECIES OVERVIEW
Introduction:
The latest news
Things
have changed again and there are 38 species of wild
cats. Until recently the 36 species of wild cats were
divided into five groups (called 'genera'). The five
groups were: lynx (cats with bob tails and
tufted ears), felis (small cats which can
purr but not roar), panthera (big cats which
can roar), acinonyx (cheetahs only) and neofelis (the clouded leopard). This system has recently been refined into eighteen groups instead
of five. The change reflects greater recognition
of the variations which exist between species. They
have decided to split the African wildcat into three
different species. Many thing will continue to change
as DNA becomes more of a factor in classification.
The following list of latin and common names
is grouped into three subfamilies of wild cats.
The divisions are based on evolutionary theory
and morphology. The taxonomic status of some
wild cats remains controversial and is likely
to be debated for years to come.
1. Acinonyinae (the cheetah)
2. Pantherinae (commonly called the 'big' cats)
3. Felinae (commonly called the 'small' cats)
1.
Acinonyxinae
Status
Cheetah Acinonyxinae jubatus Endangered
Cheetah
Conservation Fund
De
Wildt Cheetah &
Wildlife Center
2.
Pantherinae
clouded
leopard Neofelis nebulosa Endangered
lion Panthera leo One
subspecies endangered
Asiatic
Lion Information Center
Lion
Research Center
jaguar Panthera onca
Endangered
Jaguar
Conservation Team/Arizona Dept.of Game & Fish
Jaguars/US
Fish & Wildlife Service
Project Survival, Cat Conservation Group
Cat
Haven website: jaguars
leopard Panthera pardus Several
subspecies endangered
tiger Panthera
tigris
Endangered
Bagheera
(good info.on tigers/medicinal trade)
Hornocker
Wildlife Institute
Tiger
Information Center
marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata
Endangered
snow leopard Panthera uncia
Endangered
International
Snow Leopard Trust
Snow
Leopard Conservancy
3. Felinae
caracal Caracal
caracal
bay
cat Catopuma badia
Temmincki's
or Asian golden cat Felis temminckii
Endangered
Chinese
desert cat Felis bieti
jungle
cat Felis chaus
sand
cat Felis margarita scheffeli One
subspecies endangered
black-footed
cat Felis nigripes Endangered
European/African/Indian
wild cats Felis sylvestris
jaguarundi Herpailurus
yaguarondi Several subspecies endangered
ocelot Leopardu
pardalis
Endangered
tiger
cat/tigrina/oncilla Felis tigrinis
Endangered
margay Leopardus
wiedii
Endangered
serval Leptailurus
serval
One subspecies extinct?
bobcat Felis rufus
One subspecies endangered
pampas cat Oncifelis colocolo
Geoffroy's cat Oncifelis geoffroyi
kodkod Oncifelis guigna
Andean mountain cat Oreailurus jacobitus
Endangered
Pallas' cat Felis manul
leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis
Some subspecies endangered
(Note:
some individuals in the pet trade are hybridizing this 5 - 14 lb wild cat with
domestic cats for the luxury pet market. The
hybrid offspring (called Bengal or Safari cats) are sometimes misrepresented
by breeders as being the result of a cross
between domestic cats and leopards (Panthera pardus),
a big cat weighing 70 - 120lbs. This is deliberate misinformation to
enhance the mystique of the hybrid. The hybridization of wild cats occurs
for commercial gain and novelty.)
Canadian
lynx Lynx canadensis
Lynx Reintroduction Program/Colorado
Division of Wildlife
Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx
Spanish
lynx Lynx pardalis
Endangered
bobcat Lynx
rufus One
subspecies endangered
flatheaded
cat Prionailurus planiceps
Endangered
rusty-spotted
cat Prionailurus rubiginosus
(the
smallest species of wild cat with an average weight of 2.2 lbs!)
fishing
cat Prionailurus viverrinus
African
golden cat Profelis aurata
puma,
mountain lion Puma concolor Threatened/some subsp.endangered
Florida
Panther Society Hornocker
Wildlife Institute
Mountain Lion Foundation Florida Panther/US Fish and
Wildlife Service
Mountain
Lion Information/California Dept. Fish & Game
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Source: Mammal
Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference,
Wilson and Reeder, 1993) The status of the cats given above is
in accordance with listings of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. For
status listings by the Convention on the International Trade
in Endangered Species please perform a search at the following
link: CITES
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