BRAZIL’S FAUNA
(Page prepared by a nature’s observer)

FELINES

Introduction
    The felines are animals that had always attracted man's attention because of its beauty, agility and intelligence, being quoted since Antique period as representing these qualities, inclusive, lots of peoples had adoration to some species. When not, they used to respect these animals a lot.
For being carnivores and big predators, attacking a dozen times those animals that were domesticated by man, the felines had suffered much persecution and practically all the species from this family are threatened of extinction.
They are normally night and solitary animals, being difficult seeing them, so the difficulty of having photos or recording in nature state. But, as almost all the animals, the felines live vestiges as footprints, smells etc. These helps evidencing their presence in a certain place.
    So, the finality of this work providing to the student of natural history, or the nature watcher the possibility of knowing a little about felines that occur in the Brazilian territory.

    Felines Classification
    There is a lot of controversy in how cats must be classified Ronald M. Nowak (Walkers Mammals of the world. 5th ed. London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991), having some accepted classifications, but that are not alike.
    We have used the classification that follows (Wilson & Reeder. Mammal Species of the World, 1992), also adopted by Tadeu G. de Oliveira and Katia Cassaro (Guia de identificação dos felinos brasileiros. São Paulo: Sociedade de Zoológico do Brasil,1999).

Family Felidae

Sub-family Acinonychidae
Cheetah; Acinonyx jubatus; Chita

Sub-family Felinae
Caracal; Caracal caracal; Caracal
 Bay cat; Catopuma badia
Asian Gold cat; Catopuma temminckii
Chinese desert cat; Felis bieti
Jungle cat; Felis chaus
Sand cat; Felis margarita
Black-footed cat; Felis nigripes
 Wild cat; Felis silvestris
Jaguarundi; Herpailurus yagouaroundi; Gato-mourisco
Ocelot; Leopardus pardalis; Jaguatirica
Little-spotted cat; Leopardus tigrinus; Gato-mato-pequeno
Margay; Leopardus wiedii; Gato-maracajá
Serval; Leptailurus serval
Canada lynx; Lynx canadensis
Lynx; Lynx lynx
Spanish Lynx; Lynx pardinus
Bobcat; Lynx rufus
Pampas’ cat; Oncifelis colocolo; Gato-palheiro
Geoffroy’s cat; Oncifelis geoffroyi; Gato-do-mato-grande
Oncifelis guigna
Mountain cat; Oreailurus jacobita
Pallas’s cat; Otocolobus manul
Leopard cat; Prionailurus bengalensis
Flat-headed cat; Prionairulus planiceps
Rusty-spotted cat; Prionairulus rubiginosus
Fishing cat; Prionairulus viverrinus
African Golden cat; Profelis aurata
Puma; Puma concolor; Suçuarana, Onça-parda

Sub-family Pantherinae
Neofelis nebulosa
Lion; Panthera leo; Leão
Jaguar; Panthera onca; Onça-pintada
Tiger; Panthera tigris; Tigre
Marbled cat; Pardofelis marmorata
Snow leopard; Uncia uncia; Leopardo-das-neves

    Species that occur in Brazil
 
                    Ocelot                                                          Puma

Ocelot; Leopardus pardalis; Jaguatirica
Margay; Leopardus wiedii; Gato-maracajá
Little-spotted cat; Leopardus tigrinus; Gato-mato-pequeno
Geoffroy’s cat; Oncifelis geoffroyi; Gato-do-mato-grande
Pampas’ cat; Oncifelis colocolo; Gato-palheiro
Jaguarundi; Herpailurus yagouaroundi; Gato-mourisco
Puma; Puma concolor; Suçuarana, Onça-parda
Jaguar; Panthera onca; Onça-pintada

    Consulted Bibliography
    Becker, Marlise & Dalponte, J. C. Rastros de Mamíferos silvestres brasileiros. Brasília: Edunb, 1991.
    Boorer, Michael. Felinos. São Paulo: Melhoramentos, 1993.
    Dorst, Jean & Dandelot, Pierre. Guia de Campo Mamíferos Salvajes de África. Barcelona: Omega, 1973.
    Nowak, Ronald M. Walkers Mammals of the world. 5^th ed. London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.
    Oliveira, Tadeu G. & Cassaro, Katia. Guia de identificação dos felinos brasileiros. São Paulo: Sociedade de Zoológico do Brasil, 1999.
    Reichholf, Josef. Mamíferos. Munich: Blume naturaleza, 1990.
    Wilson & Reeder. Mammal Species of the World, 1992.

   Links
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