Big Cat Family Scientific Name

There are 36 species of cats in this family.

Big cat family scientific name. The animal has more names in the dictionary than any other animal. This family is characterized by short muzzles and a reflective membrane over their eyes which gives them excellent vision. They are also agile have excellent balance and possess partially or completely retractable claws -- all characteristics which make them excellent hunters.

Felidae - Cats Cheetahs Lions Tigers Leopards. The members of this family are built for hunting. Many of the cats have new scientific names some new species have been declared and some species have been reclassified as subspecies.

Species in this family are found in all areas of the world except for Australia and Antarctica. Ancient Cat May Reshape Feline Family Tree. 41 rows Wild Cat Common Name Wild Cat Species Name.

However its distribution is very patchy and the big cat with the overall widest distribution is the Leopard. Genetic research has revealed some very interesting things but the results are not set in stone. Leopards can be found across most of sub-Saharan Africa in a few parts of far northern Africa across the Middle East and east from the Caspian.

The name leopard was originally given to the cat now called cheetahthe so-called hunting leopardwhich was once thought to be a cross between the lion and the pard. Small and medium cats including housecats are member of Felis. Most big cats are members of the genus Panthera.

Is the Panther a member of the big cat family. The worlds first big cats may have arisen millions of. List by Common Name.