The latest dated historical record of the wildcat (Felis silvestris) from Crimea
Journal: Proceedings of the Theriological School
Year: 2015

The wildcat became extinct in Crimea. The specimen reported here, a sub-complete skeleton, was collected in 2013 on the archaeological site of Neyzats (Neusatz) and dated to ca. 1600 years BP. It differs from domestic cats with its large body and skull size, nasal and orbit anatomy, and therefore is identified as a wildcat. In the skull size and proportions, as well as in the nasal shape, it generally fits the Caucasian population of European wildcats Felis silvestris silvestris. The shape of pr