Classification of living species

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In 2017 the classification of the Felidae was reviewed by a panel of 22 experts divided into core, expert and review groups, which make up the Cat Classification Task Force CCTF of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group. The aim of the CCTF was to produce a consensus on a revised classification of the Felidae for use by the IUCN. Based mainly on published research, the CCTF fully revised the classification of the Felidae at the level of genus, species and subspecies. The results of this revision were published in the Cat News Special Issue 11. A traffic-light system was used for the first time to indicate the level of certainty of each taxon based on morphological, molecular, biogeographical and other evidence. Good evidence was required in the three principal categories to strongly support the acceptance of a taxon. Whenever disagreements existed among members of the CCTF, these have been highlighted in the accounts for each species.

 

In 2017 two subfamilies, eight lineages, 14 genera, 41 species (40 wild felid species and the domestic cat) and 77 subspecies were recognised by most members of the CCTF, which is a considerable change from the classification proposed by Wozencraft (2005), which was the last major revision of the Felidae. See pdf document. 

 

In order to answer current areas of uncertainty, future areas of taxonomic research have been highlighted in the Cat News Special Issue. This classification of the Felidae is currently being reviewed to take into account recent developments in our understanding of the taxonomy of and geographical variation in felids.

 

References

Kitchener A. C., Breitenmoser-Würsten Ch., Eizirik E., Gentry A., Werdelin L., Wilting A., … & Tobe S. 2017. A revised taxonomy of the Felidae. The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN/ SSC Cat Specialist Group. Cat News Special Issue 11, 80 pp.