P. Meier
Evolution
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Evolutionary tree of Felidae. Thick lines indicate the presence of a fossil record thin lines indicate the absence of a fossil record (Werdelin et al. 2010).
The evolution of the cats
Today, we recognise 40 species of wild cats. However, many more species existed in the past, but have gone extinct such as the saber-toothed tigers from the genus Smilodon. We present here a review the ancestry of today’s cat species and their associated diversity that has become extinct. The interpretation of fossil evidence is still debated and new discoveries may change interpretation. Some publications will not agree with what is presented here. However, this page is not meant as an exhaustive and definitive compendium. If you are interested in more details, please refer to the list of references at the end of this page, which may be used as a starting point to delve deeper into the subject.