Felidae

**Felidae** is a family of mammals, in the order Carnivora. Animals that belong to Felidae are called *felids*.

The cat family is of quite recent origin: the first fossils are from the Oligocene, 25 million years ago (mya). There are 41 living species, including the domestic cat, and they are monophyletic: all descended from the same ancestor.

## Characteristics 
Felids tend to have lithe and flexible bodies with muscular limbs. In most species, the tail is a third or a half the length of the body, with some exceptions (the bobcat and margay). The limbs are digitigrade, meaning they walk on their toes. The paws have three soft toe pads and retractible claws (usually).

The felids' closest relatives are the linsangs, and at one remove the group of civets, hyenas, mongooses, and Madagascar carnivores, with whom they share the Suborder Feliformia. All felid species share a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting sweetness.

### Genetic classification
Genetic research has provided a basis for a more concise classification for the living members of the cat family based on genotypical groupings.  Specifically, eight genetic lineages have been identified:
* Lineage 1: *Panthera*, *Uncia*, *Neofelis*
* Lineage 2: *Pardofelis*, *Catopuma*
* Lineage 3: *Leptailurus*, *Caracal*, *Profelis*
* Lineage 4: *Leopardus*
* Lineage 5: *Lynx*
* Lineage 6: *Puma*, *Acinonyx*
* Lineage 7: *Prionailurus*, *Otocolobus*
* Lineage 8: *Felis*

The last four lineages (5, 6, 7, 8) are more related to each other than to any of the first four (1, 2, 3, 4), and so form a clade within the Felinae subfamily of family Felidae.

## Taxonomy
* **Subfamily Felinae**
** Genus *Acinonyx*
*** Cheetah, *Acinonyx jubatus*
** Genus *Caracal*
*** Caracal, *Caracal caracal*
** Genus *Catopuma*
*** Bay cat, *Catopuma badia*
*** Asian golden cat, *Catopuma temminckii*
** Genus *Felis*
*** Chinese mountain cat, *Felis bieti*
*** Jungle cat, *Felis chaus*
*** Pallas' cat / Manul, *Felis manul*
*** Sand cat, *Felis margarita*
*** Black-footed cat, *Felis nigripes*
*** Wildcat, *Felis silvestris*
**** Domestic cat, *Felis silvestris catus*
** Genus *Leopardus*
*** Pantanal cat, *Leopardus braccatus*
*** Colocolo, *Leopardus colocolo*
*** Pampas cat, *Leopardus pajeros*
*** Geoffroy's cat, *Leopardus geoffroyi*
*** Kodkod, *Leopardus guigna*
*** Andean mountain cat, *Leopardus jacobitus*
*** Ocelot, *Leopardus pardalis*
*** Oncilla, *Leopardus tigrinus*
*** Margay, *Leopardus wiedii*
** Genus *Leptailurus*
*** Serval, *Leptailurus serval*
** Genus *Lynx*
*** Canada lynx, *Lynx canadensis*
*** Eurasian lynx, *Lynx lynx*
*** Iberian lynx, *Lynx pardinus*
*** Bobcat, *Lynx rufus*
** Genus *Pardofelis*
*** Marbled cat, *Pardofelis marmorata*
** Genus *Prionailurus*
*** Leopard cat, *Prionailurus bengalensis*
*** Iriomote cat, *Prionailurus iriomotensis*
*** Flat-headed cat, *Prionailurus planiceps*
*** Rusty-spotted cat, *Prionailurus rubiginosus*
*** Fishing cat, *Prionailurus viverrinus*
** Genus *Profelis*
*** African golden cat, *Profelis aurata*
** Genus *Puma*
*** Puma, *Puma concolor*
* **Subfamily Pantherinae**
** Genus *Neofelis*
*** Clouded leopard, *Neofelis nebulosa*
*** Sunda clouded leopard, *Neofelis diardi*
** Genus *Panthera*
*** Lion, *Panthera leo*
*** Jaguar, *Panthera onca*
*** Leopard, *Panthera pardus*
*** Tiger, *Panthera tigris*
** Genus *Uncia*
*** Snow leopard, *Uncia uncia*

## Related pages
* *Smilodon*

## References