Wikijunior:Big Cats/Classification

Scientists classify all living things into different groups. This helps to see what some animals have in common and how related some animals are. It is like building a family tree for living things. They classify cats as well. All cats are in the family Felidae.

In English, a Puma may be called a cougar in one place or a mountain lion somewhere else. Animals also have different names in other languages like Russian, Greek and Spanish. To prevent confusion, scientists agree on a single Latin name for each animal. Some early humans did draw pictures of mammoths, mastodons, and European cave lions, but any common names for these extinct animals are forgotten. That's why many fossil big cats have an odd scientific name like Miraconyx inexpectatus instead of a short, graceful name like Cheetah.

Below is a list of the classification of the cats in this book.

Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)

Phylum: Chordata (Animals with spinal cords)

Subphylum: Vertebrata (Vertebrates)

Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

Order: Carnivora (most Carnivorous Mammals)

Family: Felidae (Cats)

Subfamily Acinonychinae

Genus Acinonyx

Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus

Subfamily Felinae

Genus Caracal

Caracal, Caracal caracal

Genus Felis

Wild Cat, Felis silvestris (of which the domestic cat is a subspecies)

Sand Cat, Felis margarita

Genus Herpailurus

Jaguarundi, Herpailurus yaguarondi

Genus Leopardus

Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis

Margay, Leopardus wiedii

Genus Leptailurus

Serval, Leptailurus serval

Genus Lynx

Eurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx

Iberian Lynx, Lynx pardinus

Canadian Lynx, Lynx canadensis

Bobcat, Lynx rufus

Genus Otocolobus

Pallas Cat, Otocolobus manul

Genus Prionailurus

Rusty-spotted Cat, Prionailurus rubiginosus

Genus Puma

Puma, Puma concolor

Subfamily Pantherinae

Genus Neofelis

Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa

Genus Panthera

Lion, Panthera leo

Tiger, Panthera tigris

Leopard, Panthera pardus

Jaguar, Panthera onca

Liger, Panthera × leogris (hybrid)

Tigon, Panthera × tigreo (hybrid)

Genus Pardofelis

Marbled Cat, Pardofelis marmorata

Genus Uncia

Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia

For more information

Felidae

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