Catopuma
| Catopuma[1] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Catopuma temminckii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Genus: | Catopuma Severtzov, 1858
|
| Type species | |
| Felis moormensis | |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Badiofelis Pocock, 1932 | |
Catopuma is a genus containing two small Asian felines, the bay cat (C. badia) and the Asian golden cat (C. temminckii).
Both are typically reddish brown in colour, with darker markings on the head. They inhabit forested environments in Southeast Asia, with the bay cat being restricted to the island of Borneo. Originally thought to be two subspecies of the same animal, recent genetic analysis has confirmed they are, indeed, separate species.[2]
The two species diverged from one another 4.9-5.3 million years ago, long before Borneo separated from the neighboring islands.[3] Their closest living relative is the marbled cat, from which the common ancestor of the Catopuma genus diverged around 9.4 million years ago.[4]
References
- ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 533–534. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Sunquist, Mel; Sunquist, Fiona (2002). Wild cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 49. ISBN 0-226-77999-8.
- ^ W. E. Johnson; et al. (1999). "Molecular genetic characterisation of two insular Asian cat species, Bornean bay cat and Iriomote cat". In S.P. Wasser (ed.). Evolutionary theory and processes: Modern perspectives, Essays in honour of Eviator Nevo. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishing. pp. 223–248.
- ^ Johnson, W. E., Eizirik, E., Pecon-Slattery, J., Murphy, W. J., Antunes, A., Teeling, E., O'Brien, S. J. (2006) The late miocene radiation of modern felidae: A genetic assessment. Science 311: 73-77. download pdf
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