IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kitchener, A.C. | |
| The evolution of the tiger | |
| 1999 Book Chapter | |
Evidence for the evolution of the tiger comes from fossil remains and molecular phylogenies. Cats of the genus _Panthera _probably evolved within the last five million years or so. On the basis of a cladistical analysis of various skeletal and anatomical characters, fossil remains and biogeography, Hemmer (1981) suggested that the original pantherine radiation occurred in eastern Asia, although there is fossil evidence to support an African origin for the lion and leopard. However, the tiger is thought to have an eastern Asian origin. Reconstructing the fossil history of tigers is difficult owing to the existence of mainly fragmentary remains, risk of confusion with closely related species, and uncertain dating of finds. |
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