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All cats can trace their ancestry back about thirty million years, when felids first appear in the fossil record. The earliest known felid, Proailurus (Pro meaning early ailurus meaning cat), was about the size of a bobcat with a long tail and slender limbs. Many species of felids, including a number of now-extinct saber-toothed cats, have evolved on different continents since then.
One of the biggest tasks facing cat researchers is the determination of how modern cat species are related to one another. In the past, relationships were determined by looking at the morphology, or "body plan" of the animal and at behaviors such as hunting strategies. Because all cats have similar body plans and behavior, relationships were difficult to determine. With the development of cellular and molecular techniques over the past decade, biologists have been able to make significant advances in determining these relationships. The following is one grouping of modern cats based on these new techniques. The cats that fall in the same group are likely to be closely related to one another.
Leopardus pardalis Ocelot Leopardus tigrinus Oncilla (Tiger Cat) Leopardus wiedii Margay Lynchailurus colocolo Pampas Cat Oncifelis geoffroyi Geoffroy's Cat Oncifelis guigna Kodkod Oreailurus jacobita Andean Mountain Cat
Felis bieti Chinese Desert Cat Felis catus Domestic Cat Felis chaus Jungle Cat Felis margarita Sand Cat Felis nigripes Black-footed Cat Felis silvestris Wild Cat Otocolobus manul Manul (Pallas' Cat)
Acinonyx jubatus Cheetah Caracal caracal Caracal Felis aurata African Golden Cat Herpailurus yagouaroundi Jaguarundi Ictailurus planiceps Flat-headed Cat Leptailurus serval Serval Prionailurus bengalensis Leopard Cat Prionailurus rubiginosa Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus viverrina Fishing Cat Profelis badia Bornean Bay Cat Profelis temmincki Asiatic Golden Cat Puma concolor Puma Lynx canadensis Canada Lynx Lynx lynx Eurasian Lynx Lynx pardinus Iberian Lynx Lynx rufus Bobcat Neofelis nebulosa Clouded Leopard Panthera leo Lion Panthera onca Jaguar Panthera pardus Leopard Panthera tigris Tiger Panthera uncia Snow Leopard Pardofelis marmorata Marbled Cat
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