IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group Library

IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library

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Downey, P.J.
Hair-snare survey to assess distribution of margay (_Leopardus wiedii_) inhabiting el Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamaulipas, Mexico
2005 Full Book
The Felidae consists of 37 species evolved from a common ancestor 12 to 2 million years ago. Felids recognized today are a result of 4 radiations from this ancestor. The first radiation occurred 12 million years ago and led to the ocelot lineage consisting of the ocelot _(Leopardus pardalis_), margay (_L. wiedii_), tigrina (_L. tigrinis_), Geoffrey's cat (_Oncifelis geoffroyi_), kodkod (_O. guigna_), pampas cat (_O. concolor_) and Andean mountain cat (_Oreailurus jacobita_). The second branch occurred 8-10 million years ago and includes close relatives of the domestic cat such as the jungle cat (_Felis chaus_), sand cat (_F. margarita_), and Pallas cat (_Otocolobus maul)_. The third branch radiated several times 4-6 million years ago giving rise to the pantherine lineage, e.g., jaguar (_Panthera onca_), lion (_P. leo_), leopard (_P. pardus_): and again 2 million years ago leading to a split between the pantherines and the lynx (_Lynx canadensis_: Collier and O'Brien 1985).
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